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Senators Deb Fischer (NE) and Amy Klobuchar (MN) led bipartisan introduction of updated E15 legislation, which tracks their previous bill, S. 2339 Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act. This bill would ensure permanent, full market access for E15, often marketed as Unleaded 88. Senators from Illinois Richard Durbin and Tammy Duckworth are co-sponsors of this bill. Other co-sponsors include Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.). "We’re proud to have senators in Illinois who understand and recognize the importance of ethanol blends to consumers and farmers. Having the E15 option at the pump is a no brainer for Illinoisans, helping relieve economical stress, lessening pollution and making us more energy independent,” says Matt Rush, IL Corn Growers Association President and farmer from Fairfield, IL. In April, the Biden Administration lifted E15 restrictions for the 2022 year. This new legislation would provide a permanent remedy to the problem on a national basis, even as several Midwest governors have also initiated a state-by-state solution. “Ethanol saves Americans millions of dollars a year at the pump and is a critical part of our nation’s energy security,” said National Corn Growers Association President Tom Haag. “We thank Sens. Fischer and Klobuchar and their cosponsors for introducing legislation today that will ensure drivers across the country continue to have year-round access to safe, low-cost, low-emission E15 and provides a commonsense resolution to a long-standing outdated barrier to consumer choice.” Ensuring continued E15 sales year-round keeps a lower-emission fuel choice in the marketplace that costs less. E15 cuts evaporative, carbon and tailpipe emissions compared to standard 10 percent ethanol blended fuels. Blending more ethanol to make E15 displaces more toxic components in gasoline, reducing exhaust emissions for cleaner air.

Today, Dover Fueling Solutions (DFS), part of Dover Corporation and a leading global provider of advanced customer-focused technologies, services and solutions in the fuel and convenience retail industry, announced all North American Wayne Ovation Fuel Dispensers will be supplied as compatible and UL-listed to E40/B20 as a standard feature. The announcement extends DFS’ UL compliance from E25 to E40, with the continued option of up to E85 available across all models and configurations, and cements DFS as the first manufacturer of fuel dispensers to offer an E40 UL listing. “In response to consumer demands for greater fuel efficiency and a desire to lower greenhouse gasses, DFS and Wayne’s Ovation Fuel Dispensers are proud to provide E40 UL listings,” said Scott Negley, Senior Director, Product Management at Dover Fueling Solutions. “This reflects DFS’ commitment to supplying retailers with the most flexible, reliable and future-proofed equipment options. Regardless of the direction policy and next-generation vehicle technologies take, retailers can rest assured that their investments in our fuel dispensers will be viable for years to come.” DFS works in partnership with the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and state affiliates like IL Corn to prepare for fueling advancements, enhance dispenser offerings and meet infrastructure needs for future mid-level ethanol blends. Over the past six years, DFS, with the support of NCGA, have produced and sold fuel dispensers certified to deliver fuel with up to 25 percent, and now, 40 percent ethanol. “Illinois corn farmers celebrate the announcement of this important infrastructure change within our state and throughout the U.S. This is the infrastructure we need to be ready to deliver cleaner burning, cheaper fuel to Illinoisians as soon as policy priorities like the Next Generation Fuels Act are passed. Illinois staff and leaders have been very influential in these conversations with Wayne Ovation Fuel and we are proud to see the work come to a beneficial conclusion,” IL Corn Chairman Jim Reed states. “We want to congratulate DFS for being the first manufacturer to offer UL-certified E40 fuel dispensers,” said NCGA President Tom Haag. “This is an important step toward offering consumers additional choices at the pump supplied by ethanol, an affordable, domestically-produced source of octane that helps to reduce the environmental footprint of liquid fuels.” For more information on Wayne Ovation Fuel Dispensers, go to https://www.doverfuelingsolutions.com/wayne . For more information on IL Corn's ethanol priorities go here. About Dover Fueling Solutions Dover Fueling Solutions, part of Dover Corporation, comprises the product brands of Wayne Fueling Systems, OPW Fuel Management Systems, ClearView, Tokheim, ProGauge, Fairbanks, AvaLAN Networks and LIQAL, delivers advanced fuel dispensing equipment, electronic systems and payment, automatic tank gauging and wetstock management solutions to customers worldwide. Headquartered in Austin, TX, DFS has a significant manufacturing and technology development presence around the world, including facilities in Brazil, China, India, Italy, Poland, the United Kingdom and the United States. For more information about DFS, visit www.doverfuelingsolutions.com .

Senator Tammy Duckworth received the ethanol award from the IL Corn Growers Association (ICGA) at the group’s annual meeting on November 22, 2022, in Bloomington. Senator Duckworth co-sponsored the introduction of the Next Generation Fuels Act in the U.S. Senate in August of this year, a bill that will build ethanol demand and pave the way for corn-based ethanol to plan an important role in America’s clean energy future. “Senator Duckworth has always been an ardent supporter of biofuels, particularly corn-based ethanol. As a veteran, she is interested in policies that promote national security, and using domestically grown fuel instead of importing petroleum and fighting wars to maintain access to petroleum is important to her,” said Marty Marr, ICGA President and farmer from New Berlin. “We are so grateful for her leadership on this bill that will impact farmers for 2-3 generations once we get it passed.”

Matt Rush, a farmer from Fairfield, IL, has been elected president of the IL Corn Growers Association (ICGA) for 2022-2023 at their re-organizational meeting, which was held today immediately following the organization’s annual meeting. Rush has served on the ICGA board for six years, most recently as vice president. He will continue his role as District 13 Director for the duration of his term as president, serving members in Clay, Edwards, Jefferson, Lawrence, Marion, Richland, Wabash, Wayne, and White Counties. Joining Rush in leadership roles are Vice President Dave Rylander of Victoria, Treasurer Sarah Hastings of Sidney and Secretary Joe Murphy of Harrisburg.

The IL Corn Growers Association (ICGA) recognized Richard “Dick” Lyons for his commitment to on-farm conservation during their annual meeting on November 22 at the Asmark AgriCenter in Bloomington, IL. Lyons was honored to receive the Mike Plumer Environmental Award, having known and worked with Mike Plumer for more than twenty years. Lyons, a former agriculture instructor at LincolnLand Community College and Illinois State University, grows corn and soybeans in Montgomery County, Illinois. He accompanies these with a two year rotation of cereal rye and tillage radish, barley, rape, and Austrian winter pea to serve as cover crops during the winter. He strongly believes in utilizing soil health practices on his farm like cover crops and minimum tillage, as well as filter strips, two-stage ditch designs, and streambank stabilization to manage his fertilizer.

Ivan Dozier, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service’s State Conservationist for Illinois, was honored by the Illinois Corn Growers Association (ICGA) at their annual meeting on November 22 for his commitment to helping farmers implement conservation practices and achieve Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy goals. Dozier was the 2nd recipient of the Mike Plumer Environmental Excellence Award this year along side Richard Lyons . Dozier has served in this role since April 2012. He oversees USDA NRCS programs like Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), and Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) in Illinois.

Mark Lambert of St. Louis, MO is the recipient of the IL Corn Growers Association’s (ICGA) top award. ICGA leaders honored Mark for his service to Illinois corn farmers at the ICGA Annual Meeting on November 22 in Bloomington. The World of Corn Award goes to individuals, organizations, or businesses for making significant contributions to the corn industry. The special award, now in its 33rd year, was created to recognize the global importance of corn, and specifically honor individual pacesetters that have made Illinois a leader in the corn industry.