The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) is asking for a hearing to be held on the “Next Generation Fuels Act of 2021” (H.R. 5089) to address some concerns they have about the bill which was introduced by Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL).

Specifically, ACE is requesting testimony on how the bill would remove market barriers to ethanol and improvements that should be made to the legislation to reward farmers for climate-smart practices and ethanol producers for investments to reduce the carbon intensity of their fuel.

In a letter to House Committee on Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr., ACE CEO Brian Jennings says they would like to see improvements in the “low carbon octane” provision of the legislation.

“ACE strongly supports the fact that H.R. 5089 would remove many ethanol market barriers and requires the latest GREET model for lifecycle assessment but believes lifecycle analysis should be conducted at the facility level and specifically include GHG reductions made in the production of biofuel crops to ensure federal policies incent further reductions in carbon intensity and reward companies taking these steps,” according to the letter from Jennings.

During a Biofuels Summit at the Farm Progress Show last week in Decatur, Illinois, House Biofuells Caucus Co-Chair Rodney Davis (R-IL) acknowledged there were concerns with the bill. “There are some concerns that some of our fellow biofuels supporters have with the legislation as written,” said Davis. “We’re going to find out what their concerns are and then we’re going to be able to build that coalition to get this legislation moving forward.”

Rep. Davis said it’s important that everyone be on the same page. “My concern is, I don’t necessarily know if Energy and Commerce Chair Pallone is in favor of this,” he said.

Listen to Davis’ comments here:
FPS21 Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL) - Next Gen Fuels Act (1:15)