By Minnesota Corn Growers Association — Dec 21, 2021
Biofuels, such as ethanol, are an immediate climate solution, and federal agriculture officials are committed to effectively administering a new grant program that will expand their availability.
That was the message a USDA under secretary delivered to the Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) president and other state agriculture and biofuels leaders last week.
The USDA has been “fighting to make sure we have resources we can use now,” said Xochitl Torres Small, Under Secretary for Rural Development.
She added that the agency will listen to farmers and ethanol producers as it distributes $100 million recently made available for biofuel infrastructure grants. “I want to make sure I’m hearing from you what you need in that,” she said.
Torres Small made the comments at a roundtable discussion led by Congresswoman Angie Craig that was held at the Cannon Falls farm of MCGA board member Rob Tate. Participants included MCGA President Bryan Biegler, Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen and leaders of the Al-Corn Clean Fuel ethanol plant, the Minnesota Petroleum Marketers Association and other agriculture groups.
Craig and the farmer-leaders touted ethanol’s ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality and positively impact rural communities. They said they hope the grant application is less cumbersome than the application used in the most recent federal biofuel infrastructure program.
Biegler, who farms in Lake Wilson, urged the USDA to consider a “block grant” approach to the program — sending the funds directly to the states. In 2014, a block-grant-style biofuel infrastructure program resulted in $8 million in federal funds being leveraged into $14 million in grant funds distributed in Minnesota.
Biegler also thanked Craig, who represents Minnesota’s Second Congressional District, for her advocacy on biofuels. In 2021, that has included introducing legislation to ensure that year-round sales of E15, or Unleaded 88, would permanently be maintained nationwide. (A regrettable federal appeals court ruling this past summer struck down a Trump administration U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rule allowing year-round E15 sales.)
MCGA has long supported efforts to promote higher ethanol blends in Minnesota. In 2021, in partnership with the Minnesota Corn Research & Promotion Council, MCGA pledged $1 million to a new state biofuel infrastructure program. Minnesota Corn also bolstered the Better Fuel Initiative, bringing on KFAN “Power Trip” morning show co-host and producer Chris Hawkey as a celebrity spokesman and creating new advertisements that played across the state.
To learn more about Minnesota Corn’s efforts to promote homegrown, cleaner-burning biofuels, visit mncorn.org. To learn more about the many benefits of higher-blend biofuels, visit betterfuel.org.