Loren Lippincott
Nebraska is an agricultural state, and we should never take that for granted. Agriculture is not just one part of our economy. In many ways, it is the foundation of our economy.
From the corn grower to the ethanol plant, from the truck driver to the local implement dealer, agriculture touches nearly every part of Nebraska. It supports jobs, strengthens our small towns, and helps keep our state competitive. That is why the push for year-round E15 is so important.
E15, often sold as Unleaded 88, is a gasoline blend that contains 15 percent ethanol. Since ethanol is made from corn, this issue impacts Nebraska farmers and communities. Expanding access to E15 year-round would provide greater certainty for ethanol producers, increase demand for corn, and give consumers a lower-cost option at the pump.
This is not a new issue. Nebraska farmers, ethanol producers, and elected officials have worked for many years to achieve year-round availability of E15. It has taken too long, but it now appears we may be closer than ever to finally getting it done.
The first and most obvious benefit is economic. Nebraska is the second largest ethanolproducing state in the country. That matters. Ethanol production supports good-paying jobs and adds value to the corn grown by Nebraska farmers. It also supports livestock producers by generating affordable distillers grains, a nutrient-rich animal feed produced during the ethanol-making process.
This is the kind of value-added agriculture Nebraska should continue to support. Instead of simply shipping raw commodities elsewhere, ethanol allows us to take a crop grown here and turn it into fuel used by drivers across the country. That creates jobs, supports local tax bases, and keeps more economic activity in rural communities.
Year-round E15 is also an affordability issue. Every Nebraskan knows that fuel prices matter. Whether you are driving to work, taking kids to school, making deliveries, running a business, or operating a farm, fuel costs affect your bottom line.
E15 saves drivers around 30 cents per gallon, a number that can jump to a dollar per gallon in some markets. At a time when families are watching every dollar, consumers should not be blocked from choosing a fuel that will save them money. This legislation does not force anyone to buy E15. It simply gives consumers more freedom and removes outdated federal restrictions on retailers.
I appreciate the work Nebraska’s federal delegation has done on this issue. In the House of Representatives, Congressman Adrian Smith introduced the bill and whipped votes for successful passage in the House in mid-May. Nebraska’s other two House members, Mike Flood and Don Bacon, also were active supporters. Senator Deb Fischer has been a leading advocate for ethanol and Nebraska agriculture for years, and Senator Pete Ricketts has been a strong supporter of renewable fuels and our farm economy throughout his eight years as governor and now in the Senate.
Now it is time to press their colleagues for action in the Senate. President Trump agrees. The White House just issued a supplemental budget request to Congress focused on the administration’s most urgent priorities. It included a specific call for Congress to get year-round E15 over the finish line — recognizing its importance to farmers and its value to consumers as a shield against spikes in the global price of crude oil.
I urge the Senate to pass year-round E15 and give Nebraska farmers, ethanol producers, and consumers the certainty they deserve. This is a commonsense policy that supports agriculture, lowers costs, strengthens rural communities, and keeps more of our energy dollars here in America.
Loren Lippincott represents Legislative District 34 in the Nebraska State Senate. Read his column in the Nance County Journal.