An Iowa Republican is questioning Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s commitment to ethanol.
U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley says Hillary Clinton has been exploring an energy policy in California that focuses on carbon reduction and relies upon a market strategy.
That contrasts with the existing Renewable Fuel Standard, which mandates production of ethanol and other bio-based fuels. The RFS has been a boon to Corn Belt farmers.
Grassley says Clinton could be considering replacing the RFS with the California program. He points to Clinton’s pro-RFS position during the lead-up to the Iowa Caucuses.
"But if she told the Cedar Rapids Gazette that she is supporting RFS, and now she’s looking for a way out of supporting it, then she’s not the pro-ethanol that she wants us to believe," Grassley says.
The Clinton campaign told the news agency Reuters that the candidate doesn’t support replacing the Renewable Fuel Standard. But Grassley says Republican candidate Donald Trump’s support for the RFS has been unwavering.