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Ethanol issues a priority for Illinois Corn Growers Association this year

Ethanol issues are at the top of the list of legislative priorities for the Illinois Corn Growers Association in 2020.

Vice President Randy DeSutter says they hope to export more ethanol and other corn products to Canada and Mexico once Canada ratifies the USMCA. He tells Brownfield they are also working to pass a low carbon, high octane fuel standard.

“For ethanol to be a player in the market of the future we need higher octane gasoline, so the cars get more miles to the gallon and the low carbon part is good for the environment because ethanol has a lower carbon footprint.”

At the state level, DeSutter says Senate Bill 1407 could really hurt future ethanol expansion as it would require union work for construction and upgrades to ethanol plants.

“And unfortunately, there aren’t many companies around that are union that build ethanol plants. It is already effecting us, and we hope we can get that stopped.”

Aside from ethanol, he says they also hope to secure funds for pre-engineering and design work for one lock on the Illinois or Mississippi River and encourage farmers to further conservation practices to prevent nutrient loss.