FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                               

Press Contact:   Monte Shaw

November 15, 2011                                                                                                                   

515-252-6249

IRFA Calls On Rep. Bachmann to Tell Iowans Where She Stands on Renewable Fuels Standard

Presidential Candidate Has Dodged Issue of Great Importance to Iowans

JOHNSTON, IA – With presidential candidate Michele Bachmann traveling throughout Iowa this week, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) today called upon the Minnesota Representative to tell Iowans where she stands on the federal renewable fuels standard (RFS), an issue important to the quarter of a million Iowans who rely on Iowa’s agricultural economy.

In a letter to Rep. Bachmann, IRFA President Walt Wendland wrote: “As a neighboring Minnesotan who was born in Iowa, you know the large, positive impact renewable fuels have had on rural economies, farm income, and US energy security.  That is why IRFA has been disappointed to be unable to get an answer to a question central to the future of renewable fuels and rural economic growth.  IRFA would simply like to know: as president, would you support and protect the federal renewable fuels standard?”

Bachmann has been asked her position on the RFS at least four times in the past few weeks, but each time she either refuses to answer or her staff intervenes to whisk her away.  Bachmann has been asked about the RFS by an ethanol supporter, an ethanol plant CEO, the IRFA executive director and even Iowa Governor Terry Branstad.  The encounters, all on videotape, can be viewed at www.youtube.com/user/iowafuel.

Wendland continued:  “Campaigning for president in Iowa is about more than signing autographs and answering the easy questions.  Iowans expect clear answers on the important issues of the day and the RFS is an important issue to thousands of Iowans…In order to unlock the many benefits of renewable fuels, federal policy must stop putting new fuels at a disadvantage to the entrenched oil interests content on keeping the U.S. dependent on oil from countries that, at best, don’t like us and, at worst, are funding terrorist attacks against us.  That was why President George W. Bush signed the renewable fuels standard into law.  That is why the RFS has been supported by officials from the Reagan and Bush White Houses.”

Walt Wendland is the CEO of Golden Grain Energy near Mason City, Iowa and Homeland Energy Solutions near Lawler, Iowa.  He is currently serving his second term as President of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association.

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association was formed in 2002 to represent the state’s liquid renewable fuels industry. The trade group fosters the development and growth of the renewable fuels industry in Iowa through education, promotion, legislation and infrastructure development.

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For more information, visit the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association website at:  www.IowaRFA.org