Ethanol Blog

LINCOLN, Neb. (DTN) -- Republican South Dakota Sen. John Thune's election to the Senate majority leader position on Wednesday is expected to be a plus to the biofuels industry.

Thune has a long record of supporting ethanol and other biofuels, during his 19 years on the Senate. Thune nudged out Texas Sen. John Cornyn for the spot in a secret vote.

Having Thune at the top of Senate leadership would be one of the more fortuitous developments for the ethanol industry in quite some time.

Two national biofuels groups said it believes Thune's election is significant for the industry.

"With Sen. Thune as majority leader, American biofuel producers and their farm partners will have one of their strongest champions setting the Senate's legislative agenda," Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor said in a statement.

"We commend the Senate for elevating him to this position and we look forward to building on the majority leader-elect's track record for supporting growth, investment and innovation in the American renewable fuels industry."

Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper said in a statement that Thune's election is important to the industry.

"On behalf of ethanol producers across the country, RFA congratulates Sen. Thune on his election as the next Senate majority leader," Cooper said.

"We are excited to continue working with him as he takes on this new role, and we are thrilled to see that the Senate's top position will be held by someone with a deep understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing America's renewable fuel sector and our partners in agriculture. Sen. Thune has consistently advocated for policies that promote ethanol as a strategy for enhancing energy security, lowering pump prices, supporting rural economies and reducing emissions. His efforts to defend the Renewable Fuel Standard, expand access to higher ethanol blends like E15 and E85 and support new technologies and innovation have been instrumental in our industry's success over the past two decades. We are confident that as majority leader, Sen. Thune will continue championing policies that promote sustainable energy, foster innovation and benefit rural America."

One of the more pressing biofuels issues that come to mind immediately is needed help from Congress to pass legislation to allow permanent year-round national E15 sales.

In 2023, Thune led a bipartisan group of federal lawmakers in calling on the Biden administration to allow year-round E15 sales that year. In addition, Thune also introduced legislation to fully recognize greenhouse gas emissions reductions resulting from ethanol. He also introduced another bill that would permanently allow for E15 sales.

In 2022, Thune signed a letter with 12 other senators asking EPA Administrator Michael Regan to set corn ethanol volume numbers above 15 billion gallons in the Renewable Fuel Standard, https://www.dtnpf.com/…, as well as raising other biofuels issues including regulatory barriers as it pertains to sustainable aviation fuel production.

In 2021, Thune was among a group of Republican senators who requested a meeting with President Joe Biden to address the role of biofuels in the administration's greenhouse gas emissions reductions plans, https://www.dtnpf.com/….

Read more on DTN:

"Republican Senators Ask Biden Not to "Bend" to Oil Industry Pressure on RFS," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

Todd Neeley can be reached at todd.neeley@dtn.com

Follow him on social platform X @DTNeeley

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