Rep. Hinson visits Valero

By Travis Fischer, tkfischer@charlescitypress.com

U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-District 2, stopped in Charles City on Wednesday, Aug. 21, as part of her quarterly tour of Iowa’s Second Congressional District.

Visiting the Valero Renewables plant, Hinson was granted a full tour of the facility where she got to see the whole process of how the plant turns corn into ethanol fuel and learn about the kind of education requirements and training are needed for the various jobs at the plant.

“We need to do everything we can to make sure there is a market for ethanol and renewable fuels,” said Hinson. “It’s the driving consumer of our grain from Iowa.”

On the Washington side of the ethanol industry, Hinson said that Congress is waiting for guidance some of the tax credits designed to reward farmers that implement conservation practices.

“That goes to the bottom line of all these products,” said Hinson.

Hinson also cited CO2 pipelines as a tool to support ethanol productions as Iowa lacks the geography needed to sequester the carbon dioxide produced in the process.

“Obviously the pipeline is a huge issue for plants to continue to maintain their viability,” said Hinson.

At the same time, Hinson spoke against new pollution standards set by the Biden Administration that encourage automakers to increase the production of electric and low-carbon vehicles at the expense of the liquid fuel market.

“I think it’s irresponsible, I think it’s unattainable, and I think it rewards our adversaries,” said Hinson. “I’m an all-of-the-above, all-of-the-below energy kind of person and when it comes to our automobiles I think that consumer choice should be driving that.”

Beyond ethanol, Hinson is also working on a bill that would regulate AI and deepfake technology, requiring tech companies to have a standard of care to ensure the emerging technology is not misused.

Hinson is also working on a bill to look at the supply chain for animal feed additives in the dairy industry.

“Some of the minerals and other substances that they add to animal feed, a lot of that is coming from China so the supply chain there is going to be absolutely critical and we’re looking at being competitive and making sure we don’t have any vulnerabilities there,” she said.