“The previous administration made the
right call to allow E-15 to be sold year-round and allow consumers to make
their own decision about what kind of fuel they want to choose at the pump. Banning
this higher blend of ethanol for part of the year never made any sense,” Grassley said. “Ethanol is good for the
economy, good for national security and good for the environment. It’s
time to give some certainty to our farmers and producers.”
The bipartisan bill would extend the Reid
vapor pressure (RVP) volatility waiver to ethanol blends above 10 percent. It
would also increase market access and continue to allow retailers across the
country to sell E-15 and other higher-ethanol fuel blends year-round,
eliminating confusion at the pump.
Until recently, E-15 was allowed to be
sold year-round. Earlier this month, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals
struck down
the 2019 EPA rule that allowed E-15 to be sold year-round.
The court decision reversed the ruling to allow E-15
to be eligible for the same volatility waiver that has been applied to E-10 for
decades.
“Corn growers stand behind the many benefits of higher ethanol blends
like E15 and support ensuring its continued access to the marketplace on the
same terms as standard ten percent blends. E15 is lower in carbon,
tailpipe and evaporative emissions, not to mention lower in price, so it’s no
surprise oil companies have tried to shut it down. NCGA appreciates the
bipartisan leadership of Senators Klobuchar, Fischer and their colleagues toward
a durable solution that would allow continued market access and expansion for
proven low carbon fuel in E15 and stands ready to work with Congress and the
EPA to provide certainty for consumers, retailers, our environment and rural
economies,” John
Linder, National Corn Growers Association President, said.
“We’re grateful our Congressional champions acted
swiftly on behalf of farmers, biofuels producers, and drivers
nationwide to introduce the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act.
The Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act would make permanent the RVP
waiver for summertime use of higher blends of biofuels, ensuring consumers
have year-round access
to a lower-carbon, lower-emission renewable fuel that
saves money at the pump. As this country works to address climate
change, we must embrace ready solutions that can be implemented
today to immediately reduce our carbon emissions in our current auto
fleet. This legislation comes at a critical time on the heels of a court
ruling that would allow the oil
industry to monopolize the gas tank and push
aside low-carbon renewable fuels. We will continue to work with
our Congressional champions to see this legislation through, and
fight to give Americans an opportunity to make a positive impact
on the environment by filling up on earth friendly fuel
blends like E15,” Growth
Energy CEO Emily Skor, said.
“RFA members across the country thank Sens. Fischer and Klobuchar for
leading this effort to introduce the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act in
the Senate. With the recent court ruling, this bill will make it abundantly
clear that the intent of Congress is to allow the use of E15 year-round. E15 is
the lower-cost, lower-carbon, American-made solution that our country needs
right now. We salute the leadership of our many Senate champions on both sides
of the aisle and look forward to working with them and the Biden administration
to expand the availability of renewable fuel blends like E15,” Geoff Cooper, President & CEO
of Renewable Fuels Association, said.
In addition to Grassley, Fischer and
Klobuchar, the legislation is also cosponsored by Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.),
Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Roger Marshall
(R-Kan.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.)
and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.).
