U.S. Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) led the six bipartisan Co-chairs of the Congressional Biofuels Caucus and 23 additional Members of Congress in a letter to President Joe Biden Thursday urging him to prioritize homegrown renewable fuels as a replacement for Russian energy sources.

The letter specifically asks the President to direct EPA to both allow the summer sales of E15 this year and to reverse course on proposed retroactive reductions to 2020 and 2021 Renewable Volume Obligations. “Taken together, these actions would significantly increase U.S. energy independence, lower prices at the pump and ensure the continued success of our sanctions on the Russian economy.”

“This is one of the most simple and most environmentally friendly way to address the issue,” said Rep. Craig in an interview earlier this week.

Biofuels stakeholder organizations strongly support the House members’ request. “Ensuring year-round access to domestically-produced E15 for all parts of the country is the quickest way to address pain at the pump and make the U.S. more energy secure,” said Brian Jennings, American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO.

Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper says there is support in the general public as well, according to a new Morning Consult poll. “E15 is typically selling for 20-30 cents per gallon less than regular gasoline right now; and as revealed by a new nationwide survey, three out of four voters support increasing the availability of E15 as a strategy for reducing pump prices and providing relief to American families.”

RFA Senior Vice president of Government & Public Affairs Troy Bredenkamp talked about how higher blends of ethanol are lowering gas prices across the country in the latest Ethanol Report podcast.