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NCGA unhappy lawmakers ask for LESS ethanol

The National Corn Growers Association says it’s disappointed in U.S. House members representing corn-growing states who have signed a letter to the EPA asking for lower volumes of ethanol in the nation’s fuel supply. NCGA’s Beth Elliott tells Brownfield Ag News – an article in Bloomberg says the letter has the influence of the oil industry, “It notes that in the property section of the draft – the first couple drafts – of the letter was written by a Marathon staffer.” Marathon Oil is based in Texas.

Elliott says NCGA is very disappointed that House Ag Committee Chairman Mike Conaway of Texas signed the letter. The lawmakers asked EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy to lower the Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) – saying the EPA’s current proposal would breach the E-10 blend wall and cause gas prices to go up for consumers, thus, hurting the economy. The NCGA, American Soybean Association and other ag groups say the proposed volumes are too low already. NCGA says lowering them further would violate the law set by Congress to reduce the amount of biofuels in the gasoline supply.

The EPA’s final proposed rule for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) has been sent to the White House Office of Management and Budget. The rule is expected to be finalized November 30th (2015).