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Branstad asks EPA to keep ethanol mandate

Des Moines Register -- Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad urged the administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to retain the Renewable Fuel Standard, which is the basis for the demand for ethanol.

Livestock interests, angered by high corn prices and blaming ethanol and its use of about 40 percent of the nation’s corn crop, have asked the EPA to waive the mandate.

In his letter, Branstad said “a decision by EPA to waive the RFS would signal that U.S. renewable fuels policy is risky.”

The mandate, originally passed by Congress in 2005, will require that the U.S. use up to 13 billion gallons of ethanol this year, about 10 percent of the nation’s total gasoline consumption.

Livestock interests have complained that the mandate drives up corn prices, which have reached a record $8.42 per bushel this summer

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Submitted Aug 24, 2012 By: BurntOrange

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honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,818 Points:1,636,245 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 5:59:13 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse of course he will ask for such mandate, b/c it will benefit his state.
slicerette Champion Author South Bend Posts:3,673 Points:560,510 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Aug 26, 2012 1:57:44 PM Ignore slicerette Report Abuse On June 1, 2012 a wholesale gallon of Ethanol was $2.00 - now at the end of August, a gallon of ethanol is $2.60. That's more thaan a 25% jump. Ethanol has added over six cents to gallon of E10 gas this summer. To use up more ethanol, EPA will have to force more gas stations to sell E15. We are buying less gasoline, but EPA wants us to use more ethanol. OH NO here comes engine wrecking E15 to a gas station near you.
LetemEatCake Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:5,667 Points:1,229,075 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Aug 26, 2012 12:51:16 AM Ignore LetemEatCake Report Abuse Ya know this is not a done deal! From the article, "The EPA this week opened a 30-day public comment period on whether to waive the Renewable Fuel Standard. The agency is required to make a decision in 90 days."
PhilMils Champion Author Virginia Posts:6,318 Points:1,190,230 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Aug 25, 2012 8:59:57 AM Ignore PhilMils Report Abuse He is a Republican. This was a Congressional mandate pushed by President Bush43. It can be undone only by Congress, not the President or EPA. Fortunately, there are some in Congress - mostly Democrats - who are trying to at least weaken the mandate.
jcotaxi Champion Author South Bend Posts:1,868 Points:381,890 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Aug 25, 2012 8:58:58 AM Ignore jcotaxi Report Abuse Everything to EPA does ends up with unintended negative concequences. Or is it really unintended? They seem to have to qualms about wasting taxpayers money. I think it's time to unwind and limit the power and influence of the EPA.
gudrench Champion Author Houston Posts:2,623 Points:529,990 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: Aug 25, 2012 2:37:05 AM Ignore gudrench Report Abuse Bureaucracy and politicians screwing us.
MAC48 Champion Author Dallas Posts:1,580 Points:788,400 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Aug 25, 2012 12:35:50 AM Ignore MAC48 Report Abuse Congress is only way to stop mandated Ethanol utilization & the EPA rules enforcing ethanol use since it was congress who established the Alternative Fuel Use standard. If you are opposed to E15 or E10, let your US representatives & your senators know of you opposition to the EPA E15 rule or to any ethanol use & to the continuance of the ethanol subsidies. Hold your representative’s feet to the fire & this foolishness can be stopped by sending e-mails, letters & phoning them day & night.
dpt Champion Author Michigan Posts:2,272 Points:2,213,450 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2012 10:56:02 PM Ignore dpt Report Abuse Of course. He's from Iowa and wants to get re-elected.
hank1326 Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:9,040 Points:1,760,070 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2012 10:28:06 PM Ignore hank1326 Report Abuse Time to cut the cord with ethanol.
jpgilmor Champion Author Houston Posts:2,296 Points:630,450 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2012 7:28:23 PM Ignore jpgilmor Report Abuse another day of using food for fuel and look at the cost!
JXQW Champion Author Kansas City Posts:2,787 Points:691,975 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2012 6:52:53 PM Ignore JXQW Report Abuse bad move, sorry
slowtrain Champion Author Georgia Posts:3,797 Points:975,400 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2012 6:18:52 PM Ignore slowtrain Report Abuse Do away with ethanol. Corn is for food, not fuel.
treehood Champion Author San Diego Posts:2,179 Points:423,485 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2012 5:51:52 PM Ignore treehood Report Abuse I'll say it again, get rid of government subsidies and mandates regarding ethanol.
Piniewoods All-Star Author Jacksonville Posts:892 Points:466,240 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2012 5:35:24 PM Ignore Piniewoods Report Abuse Ok
Voltus Champion Author Miami Posts:8,582 Points:1,581,150 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2012 5:33:55 PM Ignore Voltus Report Abuse no more taxpayer dollars to the corn industry...
dacofa Champion Author Nevada Posts:5,401 Points:1,173,405 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2012 5:33:32 PM Ignore dacofa Report Abuse It's garbage.
dabbadu Champion Author New York Posts:1,056 Points:681,255 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2012 5:32:50 PM Ignore dabbadu Report Abuse Gotta keep the price of corn high, so...
carinthuist Champion Author San Francisco Posts:2,368 Points:354,190 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2012 5:31:31 PM Ignore carinthuist Report Abuse KEEPmandate
mckellyb Champion Author Fort Worth Posts:12,573 Points:2,276,405 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2012 5:30:54 PM Ignore mckellyb Report Abuse There is ZERO reason to use corn ethanol in the US. Oh, wait...lobbyists...
sprocketsplines Champion Author Washington Posts:1,808 Points:887,085 Joined:Oct 2010	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2012 5:28:48 PM Ignore sprocketsplines Report Abuse Iowa as a corn producing state is benefiting from EPA's RFS which has pushed up the demand and price of corn so it makes sense that Iowa's governor doesn't want the ethanol mandate changed.
E-Squirrel Champion Author Orange County Posts:3,021 Points:823,240 Joined:Feb 2005	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2012 5:28:12 PM Ignore E-Squirrel Report Abuse From the article snippet above: 'In his letter, Branstad said “a decision by EPA to waive the RFS would signal that U.S. renewable fuels policy is risky.”' In other words, it might admit the truth about the policy. The corn lobby is so determined to keep their profits, that nothing else matters.
BMWer Champion Author Calgary Posts:2,181 Points:1,690,925 Joined:Dec 2003	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2012 5:26:18 PM Ignore BMWer Report Abuse Get rid of it
msgt_usa Champion Author Virginia Posts:3,611 Points:956,730 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2012 5:20:34 PM Ignore msgt_usa Report Abuse What is more important here--fueling the human body or an automobile? Someone has lost their sense of direction. Corn if for food, not fuel.
MDTDriver Champion Author California Posts:9,848 Points:2,180,900 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2012 5:20:28 PM Ignore MDTDriver Report Abuse And the Iowa Gov. has a money interst in the ful standard of ethanol!!
gr649 Veteran Author Chicago Posts:316 Points:101,645 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2012 5:18:16 PM Ignore gr649 Report Abuse Not surprising. Big business for Corn Huskers
manbig13 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:1,431 Points:557,475 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2012 5:17:22 PM Ignore manbig13 Report Abuse ha
luvsautos Champion Author Columbus Posts:4,801 Points:209,685 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2012 5:17:20 PM Ignore luvsautos Report Abuse Hahahaha yea 'corn-hole branstad' for sure.
PriceScout007 Rookie Author San Antonio Posts:50 Points:55,580 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2012 5:14:48 PM Ignore PriceScout007 Report Abuse It is what it is what it is what it is what it is
RAE344 Champion Author Virginia Beach Posts:3,207 Points:688,245 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2012 5:14:00 PM Ignore RAE344 Report Abuse The Iowa governor is willing to turn his back to the rest of the country just so a few of his rich friends get a few more bucks.
MahopacJack Champion Author New York Posts:8,075 Points:1,604,335 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2012 5:13:39 PM Ignore MahopacJack Report Abuse This is an excellent example as to why we should insist upon our Government to follow the "law of the Land," the US Constitution. Most people are aware that ethanol is not only energy INEFFICIENT but costly on two fronts. The first being it cost more to make than the gasoline it replaces and the second, it drives food prices higher as it costs more to produce the feedstock for meat. The EPA's mandate for ethanol is simply UNCONSTITUTIONAL as the US Congress was never given the authority to delegate its powers to agencies that are not subject to the citizens will.
libertyut Champion Author Utah Posts:1,370 Points:298,200 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2012 5:10:41 PM Ignore libertyut Report Abuse Say no to Ethanol.
WILDCAT112 All-Star Author South Carolina Posts:964 Points:188,465 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2012 5:08:38 PM Ignore WILDCAT112 Report Abuse What a Joke
milespergallon Champion Author Illinois Posts:9,880 Points:1,935,835 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2012 5:07:30 PM Ignore milespergallon Report Abuse On the contrary: WE NEED TO GET RID OF ETHANOL
032946 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:19,999 Points:4,070,770 Joined:Oct 2001	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2012 5:05:13 PM Ignore 032946 Report Abuse That is what you would expect from a governor of a corn state. He wants to look good so he can get relected to a coshy job.
normcrocker All-Star Author Tennessee Posts:893 Points:796,450 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2012 5:02:11 PM Ignore normcrocker Report Abuse What did you expect? No Iowa politician can be re-elected opposing ethanol.
n3tbc Veteran Author Wilmington Posts:355 Points:333,575 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2012 4:59:20 PM Ignore n3tbc Report Abuse OK
KillChain Champion Author Albuquerque Posts:5,630 Points:1,555,685 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2012 4:59:09 PM Ignore KillChain Report Abuse No corn for fuel.................
stevencr Champion Author Ohio Posts:5,792 Points:1,461,490 Joined:Mar 2009	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2012 4:59:08 PM Ignore stevencr Report Abuse It all comes down to the basic question. Why are we useing food to make fuel when there are still starving people in the world?
lonelyshark Champion Author Colorado Posts:9,113 Points:1,530,875 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2012 4:58:22 PM Ignore lonelyshark Report Abuse Shocked I am, absolutely shocked! The governor of Iowa, where a lot of corn is grown that is turned into ethanol thinks its a good idea. It's certainly not a pork barrel idea! Now those wind farms in some other state that get tax breaks, they're just evil money grubbers!
fcdriver Champion Author Tennessee Posts:7,373 Points:1,498,605 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2012 4:57:50 PM Ignore fcdriver Report Abuse they do not understand the reality of what they are asking
gass12 Champion Author Omaha Posts:8,528 Points:2,330,645 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2012 4:57:44 PM Ignore gass12 Report Abuse All the big corn states want to keep it.
REVLAW Champion Author San Antonio Posts:10,571 Points:2,033,220 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2012 4:52:34 PM Ignore REVLAW Report Abuse The negative externality of idealistic bureaucratic liberal thought and policy enactment revealed where "the rubber meets the road".
nemoFL Champion Author Florida Posts:8,936 Points:1,637,000 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2012 4:50:06 PM Ignore nemoFL Report Abuse dump it
mikaye Champion Author Cleveland Posts:3,959 Points:890,185 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2012 4:48:13 PM Ignore mikaye Report Abuse why ethanol is worthless
Indy1 All-Star Author Quad Cities Posts:877 Points:822,325 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2012 4:44:54 PM Ignore Indy1 Report Abuse ok
tarheelcoastie Champion Author Greensboro Posts:5,321 Points:1,137,370 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2012 4:44:50 PM Ignore tarheelcoastie Report Abuse Lost corn crop this year plus crop insurance plus the mandate for Ethanol plus corn reserves from previous years means that someone is going to get very, very rich ... and the public will pay for it all!
redtruck01 Champion Author North Carolina Posts:1,621 Points:1,383,720 Joined:Mar 2009	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2012 4:43:28 PM Ignore redtruck01 Report Abuse Say no way to Ethanol!
TCon313 All-Star Author New York Posts:611 Points:607,440 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2012 4:41:06 PM Ignore TCon313 Report Abuse If they waive the mandate then there is less demand for corn. Those folks in Iowa have been getting paid for this mandate for years, the governor is looking out for his constituents, which is his job. The fact that ethanol is a costly additive that does more harm then good should be factored into the equation. Get rid of ethanol completely. Maybe we can stop all this GMO nonsense too
RedRam2005 Champion Author San Antonio Posts:7,883 Points:1,523,940 Joined:Dec 2007	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2012 4:40:49 PM Ignore RedRam2005 Report Abuse The mandate should be completely revoked.
mikesr11 Champion Author New York City Posts:3,637 Points:706,940 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2012 4:38:46 PM Ignore mikesr11 Report Abuse GET RID OF ETHANOL, THE EPA, AND OBAMA.