There’s been a major push by corn producers and the ethanol industry to make the year-round sale of E-15 permanent. That push also has the full support of Indiana Governor Mike Braun.
“I don’t think the public realizes how much of our corn crop goes to ethanol. I mean, it’s a large percentage,” said Governor Braun, who wrote a letter to Indiana’s Congressional Delegation — including the state’s nine U.S. representatives, as well as Senators Todd Young and Jim Banks — calling on a “permanent federal solution” for year-round E-15, a gasoline blend containing up to 15 percent ethanol.
Braun’s letter was shared by the Indiana Ethanol Producers Association (IEPA).
Braun told Hoosier Ag Today the measure would not only give a huge boost to the state’s corn producers, but it would also expand sales and bring additional opportunities for Indiana’s 15 ethanol production facilities.
“We’re always in that tug-of-war with the oil industry. During my days [serving as U.S. Senator] in D.C., they always seem to have that leg up,” said Braun. “This is just another example where state-by-state, our legislators who represent farm states have to keep pushing.”
He says that year-round E-15 would also help offset the challenges that corn producers are facing.
“Sadly, we’re up against competition—with acres coming on board in places like Brazil and Argentina—we can never stop the effort. The key is to find additional ways that we can use that crop that we produce add value to it,” he said.
Braun added that he will also push the Trump administration—including EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin—to make year-round E-15 a reality for Hoosiers.
“[My administration] will put full effort into. I will always be bringing that up when I’m interfacing with Lee [Zeldin] and the EPA, or the [Trump] administration in general,” said Braun.
In addition, Braun says the measure could also bring savings as much as 30-cents-per-gallon at the pump.
Indiana produces roughly 1.4 billion gallons of ethanol a year, a process that supports 41,500 direct and indirect jobs across the state.
CLICK BELOW to hear Hoosier Ag Today’s radio news report:
BELOW is the letter that Governor Mike Braun (R-IN) has written to the Indiana Congressional Delegation pushing for a legislative fix for permanent, year-round E-15:
