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Press Contact:   Monte Shaw

November 1, 2011                                                                                                                   

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IRFA President Walt Wendland Statement on Gov. Rick Perry’s Energy Remarks During Pella Manufacturing Forum

Perry Energy Plan Does Not Match Perry Rhetoric

Background:  Presidential candidate and Texas Governor Rick Perry addressed the National Association of Manufacturers forum in Pella, Iowa today.  Governor Perry was asked about his support for energy tax credits and the renewable fuels standard.

IRFA President Walt Wendland issued the following statement:

“When you read Governor Perry’s energy plan, it does not match his rhetoric on the campaign trail.  Despite some rhetorical flourishes that we may all agree on, the actual Perry energy plan leaves Iowa running on empty.  Let me provide four examples.

First, Governor Perry said he supports an “all of the above” energy policy. However, he is the only candidate for the Republican nomination campaigning in Iowa that has not opposed an effort by Texas Congressmen to ban E15 (15% ethanol blends), a domestic alternative to foreign oil.  Such a ban would rip fuel choice out of the hands of consumers and replace it with a de facto mandate of more foreign oil.  That is not the free market.

Second, Governor Perry stated today that the government shouldn’t be “picking winners and losers,” but his energy plan does just that.  Today in Pella, Governor Perry made clear his opposition to the federal renewable fuels standard (RFS).  However, the Perry energy plan would leave intact federal law and regulations mandating that over 95 percent of vehicles on the road be filled with a fuel that is a minimum of 85 percent petroleum.  A violation of this federal petroleum mandate is punishable by a $37,000 per day fine.  So, in reality, the Governor has picked a winner – oil.

Third, Governor Perry said today he wants to get rid of all the tax credits for oil and gas, in addition to renewable fuels.  To accomplish this, the Perry energy plan would allow energy tax credits to expire when they come up for renewal.  However, everyone in the energy industry knows that all renewable tax credits have specific expiration dates while no petroleum tax credits have an expiration date.  Therefore, despite the campaign rhetoric, there is no plan for eliminating oil tax subsidies, some of which go back almost 100 years. That is not a fair energy tax policy.

Finally, the Perry campaign recently said their plan is designed “so that all forms of American energy are more competitive.”  However, of the 29 specific policy recommendations in the Perry energy plan, at least 18 are designed to promote the production and use of oil and natural gas.  Not a single policy recommendation is targeted to promote the production and use of renewable fuels.  That is not a broad based energy plan.  The Perry energy plan would further tilt the playing field in favor of oil.”

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