U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley says he’s “embarrassed” by key state legislators who say they would oppose a plan to require only ethanol-blended fuels be pumped at all gas stations in Iowa. Grassley, a Republican, says Minnesota is already requiring the corn-based ethanol blends at every pump and it works well there.
Grassley says he loves the idea of passing such a law in Iowa because “for decades, I’ve been a leader in the ethanol industry, promoting ethanol at the federal level.” Congress recently passed a measure Grassley backed that extends tax credits for ethanol and to biodiesel, which is made from soybeans. The ethanol-only proposal for Iowa gas pumps was suggested again recently by Republican Congressman Jim Nussle in his bid for the Iowa governor’s office. Grassley says it would be a great way to promote a value-added Iowa product.
Grassley says “Being a leader at the federal level, you can understand how disappointed I am that leaders at the state legislative level seem to be dragging their feet.” Grassley says Iowa lawmakers should give serious consideration to the issue when the next legislative session begins in January.
“If it works in Minnesota, why shouldn’t it work in Iowa? I’m a little embarrassed that Iowa would play second fiddle to good ethanol policy to the state of Minnesota. After all, we are the number-one corn-producing state in the country.” Iowa is also the nation’s top producer of ethanol. A survey finds 70-percent of motorists already choose an ethanol-blend when they fill up in Iowa.