Branstad announces ‘presidential campaign’ for ethanol industry in Iowa
January 22, 2015 |05:56 PM
Iowa Governor Terry Branstad today announced a bipartisan campaign to promote the Renewable Fuel Standard in the 2016 Iowa presidential caucuses.
The campaign, to be called “America’s Renewable Future,” will be co-chaired by former state Rep. Annette Sweeney, a Republican, and former Lt. Gov. Patty Judge, a Democrat and Iowa renewable fuels industry leader Bill Couser.
“Americans of both political parties know that a robust RFS creates jobs in America, reduces our dependency on foreign oil and offers more consumer choice,” Branstad said in a news release.
“The last time there was a wide open race for the presidential nomination in both parties was 2007, just as the RFS was beginning to take effect. Since then, Iowa has built 17 new bio-refineries, doubled ethanol production, tripled biodiesel production, and launched commercial scale production of cellulosic ethanol with three brand new facilities. It’s a broad based industry that benefits workers, families and communities in all 99 counties.”
The campaign will be managed by Branstad’s son, Eric, a public relations executive who said in a call to reporters that “we have designed it to look like a presidential campaign and the RFS is our candidate.”
Funding will come from the Iowa Corn Growers Association, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy and other groups, the organizers said.
The campaign, to be called “America’s Renewable Future,” will be co-chaired by former state Rep. Annette Sweeney, a Republican, and former Lt. Gov. Patty Judge, a Democrat and Iowa renewable fuels industry leader Bill Couser.
“Americans of both political parties know that a robust RFS creates jobs in America, reduces our dependency on foreign oil and offers more consumer choice,” Branstad said in a news release.
“The last time there was a wide open race for the presidential nomination in both parties was 2007, just as the RFS was beginning to take effect. Since then, Iowa has built 17 new bio-refineries, doubled ethanol production, tripled biodiesel production, and launched commercial scale production of cellulosic ethanol with three brand new facilities. It’s a broad based industry that benefits workers, families and communities in all 99 counties.”
The campaign will be managed by Branstad’s son, Eric, a public relations executive who said in a call to reporters that “we have designed it to look like a presidential campaign and the RFS is our candidate.”
Funding will come from the Iowa Corn Growers Association, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy and other groups, the organizers said.
