U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (IA-R) greeted people last Thursday with elbow or fist bumps. Grassley, who was originally scheduled to be in the county in mid-March, finally made his way to Wright County last week as part of his whirlwind tour of the state during a two-week recess from the Senate. Wright County was his 27th county visited in two weeks with two more planned later last week.
The senator made his stop at Prairie Energy Cooperative west of Clarion in the shop building. There was plenty of space for social distancing, and Grassley wore a mask the whole time. About 30 people were present at the meeting, most of those Prairie Energy staff along with representatives from other electric cooperatives.
Grassley spoke briefly and then took questions. He said that the stop was part of his 40th annual county tour, and despite the coronavirus pandemic, “I want to be out there with the people.”
Regarding his legislative priorities, he noted that the senate will be working on the coronavirus stimulus package when the recess ends. He explained it would not be as big as earlier legislation, but it too will seek to help small businesses, hospitals and the economy. He also explained that President Trump is pushing for a payroll tax cut rather than payments to individuals. Grassley hopes lawmakers can have it to the president by early August before the conventions.
When taking questions from the audience, most dealt with issues related to utilities and electric co-ops. Much of the discussion revolved around the REDLG program. According to the Rural Electric Economic Development website, the REDLG program is a USDA loan program offering zero interest loans to eligible borrowers (generally electric or telephone cooperatives) on the condition that they pass the funds on to an approved rural development project at zero interest. The cooperative is required to guarantee repayment to the USDA.
Marion Denger, Prairie Energy Board of Directors President, emphasized how important the REDLG program is to them and noted they have never had a default. He and others asked Grassley to continue to support it. Tim Marineau, Prairie Energy General Manager, added that REDLG was used recently for the ReNewTrients organic fertilizer facility in Wright County.
Other discussion revolved around biofuels. Grassley was asked if he has been working on anything to stabilize the market for biofuels. The senator said he and Senator Joni Ernst have been working on that. He explained that he and Ernst spoke recently with EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler to discuss oil refinery waivers, which biofuel advocates say hurt farmers by undermining demand for corn-based ethanol. Grassley said, that in the past, some of these waivers have been illegal. He feels that President Trump isn’t always on the same page with Wheeler when it comes to this issue. Grassley hopes that the upcoming relief package will aid ethanol producers who have been adversely affected by the pandemic.
Grassley was also asked about wind energy and other renewable energies. He is considered the “Father of Wind Energy” for authoring the 1993 bill that established the first-ever wind energy production tax credit. When Ken Kuyper, executive vice president and general manager of Corn Belt Electric, asked about the feasibility of moving to no carbon emissions, Grassley said that the presidential election will determine what happens. He said that Joe Biden will move towards no fossil fuels. The senator added, “I’d rather let the marketplace make that decision.”
In a one on one question period after the general meeting, Grassley was asked about his feelings on schools reconvening next month and what to make about Trump’s threat to defund schools that choose not to open. He said, “The president wants us to believe that he can push governors and states to open schools, but Congress would have a say. He really has no authority to defund schools.” He expressed his support for children returning to school but wants them to be safe as well.
From Clarion, Grassley made his way to Humboldt where he met with farmers at a Farm Bureau sponsored Q & A.
