MASON CITY – Yesterday, Republican State Senate Candidate, Shawn Dietz of Hampton, enjoyed a plant tour and meeting with members of the management team at the Golden Grain Energy facility in Mason City. Following his visit, Dietz issued this statement, “It was truly and educational and eye opening experience in many ways. Chief Operations Officer, Chad Kuhlers; Commodity Manager, Curt Strong; and Chief Financial Officer, Christy Marchand all did an excellent job presenting the opportunities and challenges they see as an Ethanol producer in North Iowa.
I was pleased to hear that the Ethanol industry is growing, remains competitive, and has more room to grow, despite losing tax incentives in 2011. What I was displeased with, is the fact that ethanol is not allowed equal access to the marketplace. Many times in the course of our conversation yesterday, I heard the Golden Grain team talk about the need for fairness in the marketplace; at no point did they ever suggest that the heavy hand of government “help” them, other than to level the playing field with the oil industry, and allow the market to work.
It was also clear that we need to address burdensome regulation that has no logic. We talked at length about EPA overreach. As someone who understands the proper role of the Federal government, I do not believe in any regulation or rule that has not first passed examination by the People through their Representatives in Congress. I’m committed to reducing the heavy burden of the EPA on Iowa agriculture as a whole, including our friends who produce Ethanol. The 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is intended to protect States from the gross overreach that we are seeing from Federal regulatory bodies, and the State Legislature can and must act on these issues.
I’m happy to do what I can in anyway to help level the playing field, as I discussed with Chad, Curt, and Christy, to ensure a fair marketplace. I do believe strongly that one of our biggest national security threats is our dependence on foreign oil, and so anything we can do to reduce that dependence is something that I am in support of; especially if we can do it while using a product native to Iowa.”
