Op-Ed: E15 is a win-win for American farmers and consumers

AFBF President Zippy Duvall and CHS Inc. CEO Jay Debertin authored a joint op-ed on the economic benefits of year-round E15. The opinion piece appeared in Agri-Pulse.

They wrote, "Support for E15 spans rural and urban communities, as well as both agriculture and energy interests. It is one of the few policies that lowers consumer costs, requires no additional federal spending, strengthens domestic manufacturing, and supports American farmers—all at the same time.

"Today, under the current U.S. blending limits, ethanol uses about 5.6 billion bushels of corn annually – about one-third of national corn production. E15, a type of gasoline containing 15% ethanol, is a proven fuel blend, yet outdated federal rules still prevent it from being sold year-round in much of the country. The result is higher fuel costs for consumers, lost sales for farmers, and unnecessary dependence on foreign energy.

"As U.S. exports decline, estimates show that every percent increase in ethanol in America’s fuel supply could generate reliable demand for roughly 500 million bushels of U.S.-grown corn. This greatly reduces how much our country—and our farmers—rely on international markets. A strong ethanol market also helps stabilize prices and reduces reliance on volatile export markets that can disappear overnight due to trade disputes."

Read the entire op-ed here. (Subscription required)