With the 2023 summer driving season quickly approaching, a bipartisan, bicameral groups of lawmakers sent a letter this week to the Biden administration demanding immediate action to approve a petition from Midwest governors to allow the year-round sale of E15 in their states.
The group of 31 U.S. Senators and Representatives, led by Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) wrote, “Relying on an annual emergency waiver is not a permanent solution for fuel retailers, consumers, or the environment…By working swiftly to finalize the Governors’ requests, you will bring much needed certainty to our corn growers, fuel retailers, and consumers to enjoy the clean-burning, lower cost benefits of year-round E15 through the 2023 summer driving season.”
Ethanol groups applauded the action. “We thank this group of proactive biofuel supporters for seeking swift action on a petition that has been delayed for far too long,” said Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “With the summer driving season rapidly approaching, the unnecessary and illegal delay of the Governors’ petition threatens the availability of lower-cost, lower-carbon E15.”
“This letter is the most recent example of the strong bipartisan support ethanol has in Congress,” said American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings. “In addition to supporting the governors’ plan for E15 in their states, we echo the Members of Congress in calling for a nationwide and permanent solution for fuel retailers, consumers and the environment, and this will be a top priority at our fly-in in DC next month.”
Joining Ernst and Duckworth on the letter are Senators Baldwin (D-Wis.), Brown (D-Ohio), Fischer (R-Neb.), Grassley (R-Iowa), Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Marshall (R-Kans.), Ricketts (R-Neb.), and Smith (D-Minn.), and Representatives Alford (R-Mo.), Bost (R-Ill.), Budzinski (D-Ill.), Craig (D-Minn.), Davids (D-Kans.), Emmer (R-Minn.), Feenstra (R-Iowa), Finstad (R-Minn.), Fischbach (R-Minn.), Flood (R-Neb.), Hinson (R-Iowa), Johnson (R-S.D.), Kaptur (D-Ohio), LaHood (R-Ill.), Mann (R-Kans.), Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa), Nunn (R-Iowa), Pocan (D-Wis.), Smith (R-Neb.), Sorensen (D-Ill.), and Stauber (R-Minn.).