Ted Cruz

Iowa farmers are profoundly frustrated with Washington and deserve a champion who will stand with Iowa against the bipartisan corruption of our nation’s Capitol.

By this point in the campaign, many readers will have seen the furious coordinated effort being waged by Democrats and big-money lobbyists, who are together spending hundreds of thousands of dollars trying to convince Iowans that I oppose ethanol. Their charges are utter nonsense.

One of the reasons that Iowa’s own Rep. Steve King — a ferocious advocate for Iowa farmers — is enthusiastically supporting my campaign is because, although I oppose government subsidies, I am a passionate supporter of a free and fair energy marketplace.

My view on energy is simple: We should pursue an “all of the above” policy. We should embrace all of the energy resources with which God has blessed America: oil and gas, coal, nuclear, wind, solar, and biofuels and ethanol. But Washington shouldn’t be picking winners and losers.

That’s why my tax plan ends all energy subsidies and mandates. No Washington favoritism for oil and gas, for wind, for solar, or for anyone else. We should phase out the Renewable Fuel Standard, end all energy subsidies, and ensure a level playing field for everyone. Right now, oil-and-gas producers can immediately expense their drilling costs; my tax plan allows every business, regardless of industry, to do the same thing.

The lobbyists’ sole focus is on the RFS, because as long as there is a federal government mandate, Washington remains front and center. Under a Cruz administration, that would change.

First, market access is critical, and my administration will vigorously enforce our antitrust laws to ensure that the oil-and-gas industry cannot block access to the market for ethanol producers.

Second, for Iowa corn farmers there is an even more important government rule that needs to be repealed to take advantage of this level playing field. Right now, the EPA — through regulations on fuels used in vehicle emissions tests — imposes a hard wall against mid-level ethanol blends, such as E25 (25 percent ethanol, 75 percent gasoline), making it largely illegal to sell gasoline with higher blends of ethanol.

Because of this EPA wall, the market is currently dominated by low-level ethanol blends, such as “E10” (10 percent ethanol and 90 percent gasoline). That has prevented mid-level ethanol fuels, such as E25 or E30, from widely reaching American consumers.

If allowed full market access, mid-level ethanol products like E25 or E30 could prove quite popular with American consumers, who are increasingly concerned with fuel economy. Ethanol is an effective fuel additive because it increases octane and decreases harmful tailpipe emissions. And because ethanol often costs less than other octane additives, ethanol blends can be a win-win for automakers and consumers alike. As Mercedes-Benz has put it, engines “optimized for a high-octane, mid-blend ethanol fuel” can “simultaneously fulfill what the customer desires — performance and economy, while reducing the environmental impact.”

As president, I will rescind the EPA’s blend wall, allowing ethanol to command a much larger share of the energy market. How much difference will that make for Iowa corn farmers?

As one expert, Dave VanderGriend — who has designed and built 26 of the 45 ethanol plants in Iowa and who fully supports my strategy and goals for agriculture in Iowa — estimated, by opening up the market, demand for mid-level ethanol blends like E25 should increase dramatically: Annual demand could reach 24 billion gallons of corn-based ethanol by 2030, which would require over 8.5 billion bushels of corn. That represents a 60 percent increase over the current RFS cap for corn-based ethanol.

All without a government mandate. Ensuring market access, without empowering lobbyists. Simply by getting Washington out of the way, and allowing Iowa farmers to sell their product on a fair and level playing field.

Finally, as president, I will end the death tax — which unfairly burdens farmers and ranchers and is a tax on the American dream — and I will rescind the Waters of the United States rule, which would wrongly subject up to 97 percent of Iowa farmland to the burdensome rules of the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers.

We can be principled and fight for Iowa farmers at the same time. And, as president, you have my word that is what I will do.

Ted Cruz is a Republican presidential candidate. Contact: ted@tedcruz.org