For more than a decade, over 300 unique individuals representing 30 states have participated in ACE fly-ins, meeting with Members of Congress and top Administration officials. The 2023 ACE Fly-in & Government Affairs Summit was no exception, with 60 grassroots participants taking nearly 100 meetings with members of Congress. Fly-in attendees also ACE also met with EPA Senior Agriculture Advisor to the Administrator Rod Snyder regarding emergency steps to allow E15 in 2023 and other issues under the jurisdiction of EPA, and with USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Robert Bonnie regarding the role climate-smart agriculture plays in reducing ethanol’s carbon footprint, among other issues. Senator Amy Klobuchar (MN) addressed the fly-in group as well. This year’s event included representation from dozens of ethanol companies and five fuel retailer companies, in addition to corn farmers and industry service and product suppliers.
Key topics ACE and its fly-in attendees prioritized in meetings with Congress included: 1) support for The Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act (H.R. 1608, S. 785) to allow nationwide and permanent E15 market access; 2) support for the Next Generation Fuels Act (H.R. 2434, S. 944) to leverage higher octane fuels, and 3) to ensure any new clean fuel or climate policy rewards farmers and biofuel producers for their valuable contributions as part of the climate solution.
Other important topics such as the Farm Bill, ensuring the Renewable Fuel Standard is getting back on track, and implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act also received key attention during the event. ACE looks forward to continuing to get traction around these issues in the year ahead and encourages you to mark your calendar for ACE’s next fly-in March 21-22, 2024.
MINNESOTA REPRESENTS: ACE members from Minnesota, including representatives with
Testimonials:
“Meeting with congressional representatives during the ACE fly in was a wonderful experience. It not only provided us the opportunity to speak on a topic we feel passionate about to individuals who can influence policy, but in many cases, it also allowed us to educate individuals on the benefits and misunderstandings surrounding ethanol.” – Ann Reis, Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy (SIRE)
“I believe the ACE fly-in allowed middle America to showcase some of its greatest talents and achievements. Ethanol is one of the many benefits the farm industry has and has proven time and time again to be a safe and reliable fuel. ACE has been a leader in biofuels discussion and an organization many can look to for leadership.” – Alex Good, Good and Quick
“The ACE Fly-in provided a great opportunity to thank supporters and provide actual feedback on how the ethanol industry benefits their constituents economically and environmentally while also providing the opportunity to provide current information to additional legislators and their staff members in an effort to build upon the ethanol industry's base of supporters.” – Dave Sovereign, Golden Grain Energy
“The ACE staff always prepares us for the Fly-In and this allows us to be more effective in our communication to congress members and their staff.” – Jerry Tegels, H2O Innovation
“Attending the ACE fly-in has an impact on our legislators and their staff. It is important for us to thank our legislative supporters who carry our ethanol industry message. It is also important to provide an accurate ethanol message of how ethanol can help — consumers, the environment and our country — to ethanol opponents in the legislature.” – John Christianson, Christianson PLLP