Johnson Strengthens Fuel Supply Chain with Vote to Secure Year-Round E15 Sales

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) voted to secure the sale of year-round E15 nationwide, strengthening fuel supply chain stability. The Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act passed the House of Representatives by a bipartisan 218-203 vote.

“Year-round E15 sales is a big win for farmers and consumers,” said Johnson. “For years, I’ve been working to reach a deal that gives consumers a cheaper option at the pump, supports American agriculture producers, and increases homegrown energy production. I hope the Senate will act soon and send this bill to President Trump’s desk.”

Johnson is a member of the Rural Domestic Energy Council, which was tasked with bringing E15 legislation to the floor. He is an original cosponsor of the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act.

Click here or the image above to watch Johnson’s remarks

Background:

• Current law requires states to opt out of the E10 waiver to allow E15 sales during summer months, creating uncertainty and dysfunction in the gasoline market, driving up gasoline prices.
  • Refiners begin manufacturing fuel in February to meet federally-required summer gasoline specifications and begin shipping it. Temporary emergency waivers can provide short-term relief in some circumstances but have historically come too late given the significant lead time required to make and deliver summer gasoline. These emergency waivers can only be provided in 20-day increments, which adds an additional level of complexity and uncertainty.
• U.S. sales of E15 hit a record 1.52 billion gallons in 2025, an increase of 23% over 2024 sales.
• Drivers typically save 10-30 cents per gallon when filling up with E15 compared to E10.
• E15 is suitable for cars model year 2001 and newer.

The Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act:

• Allows the year-round sale of E15 fuel nationwide.
  • Doing so prevents a patchwork of unique state requirements while not impacting the supply of E10.
• Defines small refining companies as those that do not exceed 75,000 barrels per day of crude oil, per company, rather than per facility (current law).
  • This ensures large companies cannot claim “small” status to not comply with the Renewable Fuel Standard law.
  • Provides small refining companies with an automatic 75% exemption starting in 2028.
• Terminates the current small refinery exemption process on July 1, 2028, and prohibits the reallocation of exempted volumes starting in compliance year 2028, ensuring other refiners are not affected by these exempted volumes.
• Provides an additional emergency exemption pool for refineries at risk of imminent closure, permanent idling, or conversion to a renewable fuel production facility due to the cost of compliance with the Renewable Fuel Standard.

Click here for bill text.

The PAC’n Heat organization has been active in postcarding the last several elections, and in their push for the 2026 cycle, it looks like there’s a countdown going on. All I can get out of them is to watch their facebook page starting at about 5:05 this afternoon.

Based on prior content, they’re not going to be pulling many punches in how they view the primary election battles:

You can view and follow here on Facebook.

PRESS RELEASE: Immediate Release 

John Fitzgerald announces candidacy for South Dakota Attorney General 

John Fitzgerald announced today, May 12, 2026, that he has stepped down from his position as a Fourth Circuit Court Judge in Sturgis, South Dakota, to seek the Republican nomination for South Dakota Attorney General. 

Fitzgerald is a graduate of Black Hills State University in Spearfish and the University of South Dakota School of Law. 

Fitzgerald served 42 years as a South Dakota State’s Attorney in Butte and Lawrence counties and is believed to be the longest-serving State’s Attorney in South Dakota history. 

In November 2022, Fitzgerald was elected as a Fourth Circuit Court Judge, serving eight northwestern South Dakota counties. 

“Serving as a Circuit Judge has been an honor and has given me an even deeper appreciation for the rule of law, the Bill of Rights, and the importance of equal justice,” Fitzgerald said. 

As an aggressive prosecutor, Fitzgerald tried cases involving murder, rape, robbery, kidnapping, and virtually every other category of crime. Throughout his career, he built a reputation for being tough on violent offenders and committed to protecting victims and property rights. 

“The Attorney General’s Office plays a critical role in protecting public safety,” Fitzgerald said. “I believe my judgment, courtroom experience, and knowledge as a lawyer have prepared me to lead the fight against crime in our state, especially violent crime.” 

Fitzgerald’s wife, Mary Fitzgerald, serves in the South Dakota House of Representatives from Lawrence County. Together, they have three grown children and six grandchildren.

Attorney General Jackley Joins Amicus Brief Requesting U.S. Supreme Court Uphold Stay on Mifepristone Requirements

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces he has joined 22 other Attorneys General in filing an amicus brief requesting the U.S. Supreme Court uphold a lower court’s stay of a federal regulation that removed the longstanding in-person dispensing requirement for the chemical abortion drug mifepristone.

The brief supports the state of Louisiana, which is suing the federal Food and Drug Administration for a 2023 rule that removed the in-person dispensing requirement. That allowed the drug to be shipped across state lines.

“South Dakota lawmakers and citizens have said repeatedly they want stronger rules for the distribution of this drug,” said Attorney General Jackley. “The states, not the federal government, should make their own decisions on this dangerous drug.”

Nebraska filed the brief. Other states involved were Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

The brief can be found here:

-30-

Just had a reader point this out to me, that Governor Larry Rhoden’s Ag Summit is being held in Pierre at the same time as the Republican State Convention in Rapid City:

I would wager that the Ag Summit will have better sponsors too.

Okay, this made me laugh.

A new PAC, said to be coming out of the Doeden-sphere, is hitting Jon Hansen for being weak on crime with a text blast to Republican phones:

The PAC is fronted by Tabor Schabot of Aberdeen. You can find out more at JailbreakJon.com

Christine Erickson for Mayor and her boys talk about what it takes to run a household – and a city!

From the NRA-PVF website, the national second amendment organization NRA has released its ratings of the candidates in the gubernatorial race, ranking three of the four equally, but giving the endorsement to the incumbent (as they have a habit of doing).

Read that and more of the NRA’s endorsed candidates here.

Governor Rhoden, who got the nod, Congressman Dusty Johnson, and that one guy, are all ranked equally. But it looks like Toby Doeden is unranked, his stance with the NRA a big question mark and possibly having bagged the NRA entirely.

Kind of a rookie mistake. But then again, for Toby this is his first Gubernatorial primary. Both running as a candidate, and voting in one.

PUC approves settlement to increase Xcel Energy electric rates below request

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Public Utilities Commissioners voted to approve a settlement stipulation submitted by Xcel Energy and PUC staff that will allow Xcel to increase electric rates for South Dakota customers at a public meeting on May 8, 2026, in Pierre. The settlement authorizes the company to increase overall electric rates by $25.6 million, or roughly 9.5%. The approved rate is about 41% less than Xcel’s original request that asked the PUC to allow for a $43.6 million annual increase to overall electricity rates, or approximately 16.2%. New rates will go into effect July 1, 2026.

Xcel Energy’s last base rate increase for electric customers was approved by the PUC in June 2023. Since that time, the company has made significant investments in its generation, transmission, and distribution systems to reliably meet the electricity needs of its approximately 107,000 South Dakota customers. Xcel cites those investments, plus additional factors like inflation, as primary drivers behind their requested increase. As a result of the commission’s decision, a typical residential customer using an average of 750 kilowatt hours of energy each month will see an increase of approximately $13.48 per month based on average rates.

“I was recently asked why more customers don’t personally participate in these dockets and the answer is simple. They have busy lives and that is why South Dakotans hire us. The public hires three commissioners and our highly skilled staff to do that work,” stated PUC Chairman Chris Nelson. “Over the past year, our staff and the experts they brought in to assist have gone through this rate case with the finest tooth comb you can imagine. Today, I can confidently tell South Dakota’s Xcel ratepayers that we have acted in their best interest,” he continued.

Xcel Energy implemented interim rates for South Dakota customers on Jan. 1, 2026. State law allows investor-owned utilities to collect an interim rate increase, subject to refund, while the commission considers a rate request. Due to the final rate increase being less than the implemented interim rate and as part of the settlement, Xcel will refund the difference, with interest, in August and September bills. The company estimates an average residential customer’s interim refund will be approximately $43.52.

“One of the things I appreciate most about this filing is how our staff have held Xcel Energy accountable to South Dakota ratepayers. While utilities have the opportunity to earn a fair rate of return, our team meticulously audited this filing and cut millions in costs that would have otherwise fallen on customers. By removing these line items, we’ve ensured that the new rates remain just, reasonable, and reliable, ultimately keeping more money in our citizens’ pockets,” commented PUC Vice Chairperson Kristie Fiegen.

Following extensive discovery and inquiry, the company and PUC staff entered into numerous settlement discussions in February 2026. Ultimately, parties reached a comprehensive agreement on Xcel’s overall revenue deficiency and other issues presented in this case including, but not limited to, class revenue responsibilities, rate design, and tariff concerns. A residential intervenor in the docket accepted the agreement.

“I greatly appreciate all the work PUC staff put into this docket. The public did not see the hundreds of data requests, countless hours and incredible amount of effort our staff has dedicated to this filing, but I can tell you it has been as thoroughly vetted as any rate case could be. Our goal is to guarantee that South Dakotans receive safe, reliable service at the most affordable rates possible, and I am deeply grateful for their efforts,” noted PUC Commissioner Gary Hanson.

Xcel Energy filed its application to increase electric rates for customers in its South Dakota retail service territory with the PUC on June 30, 2025.

Terms of the agreement include a rate moratorium that will prevent Xcel Energy from requesting additional increases to base rates that take effect prior to Jan. 1, 2029. The settlement also makes changes to the residential customer service charge and late payment charges.

The full docket can be viewed on the PUC website at puc.sd.gov, Commission Actions, Electric Dockets, 2025 Electric dockets, EL25-024 – In the Matter of the Application of Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy for Authority to Increase its Electric Rates.

– 30 –