PEORIA, Ill. – Farmers who gathered at the Peoria County Farm Bureau March 24 for a “Food, Feed and Fuels” outlook were urged to renew their support for the Next Generation Fuels Act (H.R. 5089) as the bill’s sponsor and a key supporter prepare to leave Congress following the expiration of their current terms.

The bill would transition gasoline and vehicles to low-carbon, higher octane fuels to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increase the production of renewable fuels. It is currently being considered by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, in addition to the House Committee on Ways and Means, where it was assigned in August 2021.

Dave Loos, ethanol technology expert for the Illinois Corn Marketing Board (ICMB) and Illinois Corn Growers Association (ICGA), told the group that the bill is a top priority for Illinois corn farmers and proponents of renewable fuels.

“This is probably the biggest initiative for both the corn growers and the marketing board. It was introduced last August by Congresswoman (Cheri) Bustos (D-Ill.), and Congressman (Darin) LaHood (R-Ill.) also jumped on this legislation as soon as it was introduced. We have five Illinois co-sponsors on this legislation including Congresswoman Bustos,” Loose said.

With Bustos and co-sponsor Adam Kinzinger, an Illinois Republican, preparing to retire from Congress, Loos and the ICMB have been busy trying to bring in new co-sponsors and breathe new life into the bill. Recently, Rep. Robin Kelly, a Chicago-area Democrat whose district includes a Ford manufacturing plant, announced her support for the Next Generation Fuels Act.

“Importantly, this bill was put into the Energy and Commerce Committee and not agriculture. Most of the biofuels people, most of the agriculture people, are serving on the ag committees. This is going to have to go through Energy and Commerce, and Robin Kelly is a member of Energy and Commerce, as is Kinzinger and a few others,” Loos said.

“If we want to get a hearing on this bill, we’re looking at Robin Kelly to help us do that. The Will County Farm Bureau really worked hard to get Robin to help co-sponsor this legislation. We also have co-sponsors from Tennessee and Kentucky whose farm bureaus helped recruit them as sponsors.”

Loos is looking for support from more of Illinois’ 18 representatives to help ignite movement of the legislation. He also would like to see more support from Wisconsin and Minnesota representatives. 

“Our main purpose this year is to make sure we get a hearing on this bill,” Loos said. “We’ll also be looking for new sponsors and cosponsors as we transition into the next congressional session, especially if the Republicans take charge of Congress. We will be looking at introducing this same bill in the Senate, and will be looking to Sen. (Tammy) Duckworth (D-Ill.) for that, along with two senators in Iowa and Senator (Amy) Klobuchar (D-Minn.).”

The bill would eliminate the barriers of introducing higher blends of ethanol into the U.S. fuel supply that the industry has been facing since the corn-based fuel additive was brought into the marketplace, according to Loos.

“We’re facing a decline in gasoline demand, due to less driving, more efficiency and a huge push by this administration on electric vehicles for light duty,” he said. “This bill helps level the playing field and grow ethanol demand. By 2035, we will be growing the ethanol demand by as much as 4, 5 or 6 billion gallons. This will really change the decline we’ve been seeing in ethanol demand. In our opinion, this is really the only way we will be able to do that.”

The bill would impose a new octane standard in 2026 of 95 RON for automobiles, resulting in about a 5 percent efficiency gain. In 2031, the octane standard would move to 98 RON, with autos certified to receive E-25 or E-30 fuel. General Motors, Ford, Chrysler and Toyota have indicated their general support for the transition to higher octane fuels championed by the bill, according to Loos.

In addition to auto manufacturers, national stakeholders include the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), the United Auto Workers, the Renewable Fuels Association and the National Farmers Union.

“Ethanol is uniquely positioned to immediately and affordably decarbonize transportation, including through paving the way to future vehicles with greater fuel efficiency and fewer emissions,” said John Linder, of NCGA, shortly after the bill was introduced last August. “The Renewable Fuel Standard was a game-changer for corn farmers, and the Next Generation Fuels Act builds on that success in advancing our commitment to providing the cleanest, most efficient and lowest cost energy solution.”

Illinois stakeholders include the ICGA, Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Grain and Feed Association, Farm Credit Illinois and 14 other organizations and businesses. Currently, the bill has 24 co-sponsors in Congress, including Bustos.