Kevin Virgil (left) is challenging U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra in the 4th Congressional District. (Photo illustration by Jared Strong/Iowa Capital Dispatch)
CHEROKEE — A political newcomer who is challenging 4th District Congressman Randy Feenstra in next week’s Republican primary election said Thursday the federal government should phase out requirements for refiners to incorporate ethanol into the nation’s fuel supply.
In a candidate forum hosted by the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association — which advocates for the ethanol industry — challenger Kevin Virgil bemoaned various government assistance that “picks winners and losers” and said he supports ending the Renewable Fuel Standard program.
“In general, I’m in favor of any industry to stand up on its own two feet as fast as it can,” Virgil said.
Feenstra, who is seeking a third term, said the program should be expanded and derided Virgil’s comments.
“Let’s destroy the ag industry,” Feenstra said.
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The association’s executive director, Monte Shaw, later told the Iowa Capital Dispatch the program is necessary “to break through the petroleum monopoly on fuel distribution.”
More than half of Iowa’s corn is used to produce ethanol, and Iowa is the top ethanol-producing state. Both candidates said the industry is important to the state’s economy but diverged on what will ensure its future success.
Feenstra, 55, of Hull, is a two-term incumbent who defeated former longtime Congressman Steve King in a Republican primary in 2020. King had been admonished for comments about white nationalism that he claimed were taken out of context.
Virgil, 51, of Sutherland, is a military veteran and entrepreneur who has made his opposition to carbon dioxide pipeline projects a focus of his campaign. He disagrees that the pipelines should be eligible for eminent domain to force easements on unwilling landowners, which is the jurisdiction of state regulators.
The association that hosted the forum supports a pipeline proposal by Summit Carbon Solutions. The candidates were not directly asked about the project, but Virgil criticized Feenstra for supporting the expanded federal tax credits that might eventually fuel its operation.
“He repeatedly votes against the Constitution to help his big donors,” Virgil said of Feenstra.
Virgil claimed Feenstra was submitting to the will of Bruce Rastetter, an agriculture mogul who has helped spearhead the pipeline project.
Feenstra did not respond to the accusation and did not mention carbon dioxide pipelines during the forum. After, he declined to tell Capital Dispatch whether he supports Summit’s project, but he insinuated the widespread opposition to it doesn’t make sense given its potential benefits for Iowa.
Leading that opposition, Feenstra said, are environmental advocates who “want to destroy agriculture.”
He declined to comment further about the issue.
A benefit of Summit’s project is the potential for Iowa ethanol — with a lower carbon score — to be used to produce sustainable aviation fuel. That might increase demand for Iowa corn, which Feenstra predicted will be produced in increasing amounts in the future.
“You wanna grow Iowa? It’s a massive opportunity,” he said.
Virgil said it’s “a pipe dream” that the new fuel market will appreciably benefit farmers. He said captured carbon dioxide from the ethanol plants should be used to produce methanol rather than being piped out of state. There is a pilot project to test the nascent technology in Illinois.
The candidates largely agreed on agricultural issues aside from Virgil’s reluctance to support federal subsidies. Feenstra said they are allowable when they yield a sufficient return. Both want to see the expanded use of ethanol in vehicles.
The winner of the Tuesday primary will likely face Ryan Melton, of Nevada, in the November election. He is the only Democrat who filed a nomination petition.
Feenstra defeated Melton in the last election in 2022 with more than double Melton’s votes.
The district includes most of the northwest quadrant of the state and extends south along the Missouri River all the way to the Missouri border. It includes larger cities such as Ames, Council Bluffs and Sioux City.
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