{"id":2148541,"date":"2024-01-14T04:34:07","date_gmt":"2024-01-14T09:34:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gop-presidential-hopefuls-back-ethanol-in-bid-to-gain-iowa-farmer-vote\/"},"modified":"2024-01-14T04:38:35","modified_gmt":"2024-01-14T09:38:35","slug":"gop-presidential-hopefuls-back-ethanol-in-bid-to-gain-iowa-farmer-vote","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gop-presidential-hopefuls-back-ethanol-in-bid-to-gain-iowa-farmer-vote\/","title":{"rendered":"GOP candidates support ethanol to win over Iowa farmers"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fgop-presidential-hopefuls-back-ethanol-in-bid-to-gain-iowa-farmer-vote%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2148541&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>ALTOONA, Iowa: Farmers Rally Behind Biofuels Industry\u200d Ahead of Caucuses<\/h2>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Kelly Nieuwenhuis, a \u2062third-generation family \u2063farmer in northwest Iowa, is passionately advocating \u200dfor the growth of the biofuels industry \u200cin the state. As he prepares to caucus on Jan. 15, Nieuwenhuis considers it\u2064 the most crucial topic\u2062 on his agenda.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>In an interview with the\u2062 Washington\u200d Examiner, Nieuwenhuis expressed his unwavering support for \u2064the biofuels industry, calling \u200cit the most significant development\u200c in \u2062his \u2064farming \u200ccareer. He invested \u200din it back in 1999 to create a\u200b market for \u200bhis\u2064 corn, and it has proven to \u200bbe\u2062 a lucrative venture.<\/p>\n<p>Nieuwenhuis has been \u200cactively educating presidential candidates about \u2063the industry&#8217;s importance and has \u200ceven given them tours \u200bof \u200cethanol plants in Iowa.\u200c The state leads the nation \u200cin ethanol production,\u200c thanks to its vast cornfields.<\/p>\n<p>After spending time \u2064with former \u2062U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Nieuwenhuis\u200d has decided to caucus for her. He believes she truly\u2062 understands\u200c the industry&#8217;s significance and is committed to supporting it.<\/p>\n<p>However, Nieuwenhuis, who\u2063 voted for\u2062 former President Trump\u200d in 2016 and 2020, is disappointed with his administration&#8217;s handling of biofuels. The Environmental Protection Agency&#8217;s exemptions for oil refineries reduced \u2063the demand for\u200b corn-based ethanol, negatively impacting the\u2064 industry.<\/p>\n<p>Lance Lillibridge,\u200b another farmer from Benton County, shares \u2064Nieuwenhuis&#8217; concerns. While he previously supported \u2063Trump,\u2062 he no\u200b longer trusts the former president to prioritize the industry&#8217;s well-being.<\/p>\n<p>Both\u200d farmers are now throwing their \u200dsupport behind different candidates who \u2064have\u200c demonstrated\u200c a commitment to biofuels. Nieuwenhuis is caucusing for \u2064Haley, while Lillibridge is backing\u200c Gov. Ron DeSantis \u2062of Florida.<\/p>\n<h3>Support for Biofuels \u200cGrows\u2062 Among Presidential Candidates<\/h3>\n<p>The organization Biofuels Vision \u200c2024 has been\u200d tracking the\u200c candidates&#8217; positions on \u2062biofuels-related issues.\u200c According to\u200c their findings, DeSantis\u200b and Haley have pledged their support for the\u2062 industry&#8217;s growth in their energy plans. Entrepreneur Vivek\u200c Ramaswamy has expressed some opposition\u2064 to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-to-vote-on-debt-ceiling-spending-cut-bill\/\" title=\"House to Vote on Debt Ceiling, Spending Cut Bill\">biofuel tax credits<\/a> and has\u200b not fully committed to higher ethanol blends.<\/p>\n<p>Trump, \u2063on the \u2064other hand, remains uncertain about his stance on\u200d biofuels, as indicated by the numerous question marks \u200con\u200b the organization&#8217;s chart.<\/p>\n<p>DeSantis and Haley recently \u2062appeared\u200d at \u2062the\u200c Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit, where they reaffirmed their support for biofuels. DeSantis specifically advocated for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sen-tim-scott-targets-chinese-communist-party-in-latest-campaign-ad-over-buying-farmland\/\" title=\"Sen. Tim Scott takes aim at Chinese Communist Party in new ad, exposing their farmland acquisitions.\">year-round sales<\/a> of E15 \u200dgas, which contains \u200c15% ethanol.<\/p>\n<p>However, DeSantis has faced criticism from both Trump and Haley for his \u200cpast efforts to eliminate \u200cthe Renewable Fuel Standard while serving\u200d in Congress.<\/p>\n<p>Lillibridge had \u200cthe \u2064opportunity to question DeSantis about his previous \u2063record and was \u2062satisfied with the governor&#8217;s explanation. He believes DeSantis has evolved and now understands the importance \u2063of biofuels.<\/p>\n<p>A recent\u200d poll of farmers conducted by Agri-Pulse revealed that 39% would vote for Trump, while 19% favored DeSantis and\u200d 13% supported Haley.<\/p>\n<p>Eric Branstad, an advocate for\u2064 Iowa&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/corn-lobby-scores-win-since-epa-finalizes-report-ethanol-blending-requirement\/\" title=\"Corn Lobby Scores Win since EPA Finalizes Report Ethanol Blending Requirement\">renewable fuels industry<\/a>, emphasized that \u2064Trump has prioritized renewable fuel during his visits\u2064 to the\u2064 state.<\/p>\n<p>This election cycle differs significantly from 2016, \u200dwhen then-Gov. Branstad opposed \u200bSen. Ted Cruz due to his stance on ethanol. This year, Gov. Kim Reynolds, who endorses DeSantis, introduced \u2064him \u200cas\u200c a &#8220;close friend&#8221; and the first candidate to fully \u200csupport Biofuels Vision 2024.<\/p>\n<p>According to Eric Branstad, the issue of biofuels has gained traction among \u200call \u200bthe candidates, and they have reached a \u200bconsensus on its importance.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> \u200c Why are farmers like Kelly Nieuwenhuis and Lance Lillibridge \u200bsupporting candidates who prioritize the biofuels industry, and \u200dhow do\u2062 their concerns reflect\u2064 the importance of\u200c this sector \u2062for Iowa&#8217;s agricultural community<\/h2>\n<p><span> <\/p>\n<p>The farmers&#8217; rally \u200bbehind the\u2063 biofuels industry\u200d ahead of the\u2062 caucuses in\u2062 Altoona, Iowa, highlights the significant role this industry plays in\u200b the state and \u2063the concerns \u2064farmers have regarding its future. Kelly Nieuwenhuis, a third-generation family farmer, passionately \u200badvocates for the growth of\u2062 the \u2063biofuels industry, considering it the most\u2064 crucial topic \u2064on his agenda \u2062as he prepares\u200d to caucus on\u200c Jan. \u200d15.<\/p>\n<p>Nieuwenhuis&#8217;s support\u2063 for \u2062the biofuels industry stems from \u2064his personal experience and investment in it. \u2064He believes it to be the most\u200c significant development in his farming career,\u200c as he invested in it back in 1999 to create a market for his corn. This\u2063 venture has proven lucrative for him\u200b and has\u2062 positively impacted\u200d his farming operations.<\/p>\n<p>Actively involved in educating \u2063presidential candidates about the importance \u2062of \u2064the biofuels industry, Nieuwenhuis has given tours \u2063of ethanol plants in Iowa to raise \u200dawareness. As\u200d the state leads\u200c the nation\u200c in ethanol production,\u200b thanks\u2064 to its vast cornfields,\u200d this \u2062industry has \u2064a significant impact on\u200c the local economy and the livelihoods\u2064 of \u2063farmers.<\/p>\n<p>While Nieuwenhuis \u2063previously voted for former \u200bPresident Trump\u200d in\u2064 2016 and 2020, he expresses \u2063disappointment with \u200bthe handling of biofuels during\u200d his administration. Specifically, he criticizes the Environmental Protection Agency&#8217;s\u2063 exemptions\u200b for oil refineries, which reduced the demand for corn-based ethanol \u2062and\u2062 negatively affected the industry. Nieuwenhuis believes\u2062 that \u200cthis decision undermined \u200cthe progress made in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lol-ny-times-argues-inflation-will-be-somehow-worse-with-republicans-retaking-congress\/\" title=\"Lol: NY Times Argues Inflation Will Be Somehow Worse With Republicans Retaking Congress\">supporting renewable energy<\/a> and\u2063 economic growth through biofuels.<\/p>\n<p>Similar concerns\u2063 are\u200c shared by Lance Lillibridge, another farmer from\u200b Benton County. \u2064Lillibridge, who previously\u2062 supported Trump, no longer trusts the\u200d former president to prioritize the well-being of\u2062 the biofuels industry.<\/p>\n<p>Both Nieuwenhuis and Lillibridge are\u2063 now throwing their support behind different\u200b candidates who have demonstrated a commitment to biofuels. Nieuwenhuis is caucusing for former U.N. Ambassador\u200c Nikki Haley,\u2062 believing that she understands the industry&#8217;s\u2062 significance and is committed\u2062 to supporting it. On the other hand, Lillibridge is backing Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, \u200dwho has also shown support for the \u200dbiofuels industry.<\/p>\n<p>The\u2063 decision\u2062 of these farmers to rally behind candidates who prioritize the biofuels industry reflects\u200c the\u2063 significance of this sector\u200b for Iowa&#8217;s agricultural community. As the caucuses \u2064approach, it will be interesting \u2064to \u2062see \u2062how candidates respond to the concerns of farmers and if\u2062 they address the challenges facing the biofuels industry.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ALTOONA, Iowa \u2014 Kelly Nieuwenhuis, a third-generation farmer, prioritizes the growth of Iowa&#8217;s biofuels industry. It&#8217;s his top concern as he prepares to caucus on Jan. 15. He believes it&#8217;s the most significant development for his farming career<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2657,"featured_media":2148542,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2148541","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2148541","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2657"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2148541"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2148541\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2148542"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2148541"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2148541"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2148541"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}