Ethanol producers, farmers, and even the petroleum industry were united in comments opposing the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s proposed new CAFE standards for Model Year 2027–2032 cars and trucks.
The Renewable Fuels Association, National Farmers Union and National Corn Growers Association filed joint comments Monday saying the proposed new fuel economy standards “greatly missed the intent” of the Corporate Average Fuel Economy program to enhance energy security that will lead to an “over-reliance on foreign critical minerals due to its myopic dependence on electric vehicles.”
The comments call on NHTSA to work with the Environmental Protection Agency to re-institute strong incentives for flex fuel vehicles that use lower-carbon, American-made ethanol. “Whether FFVs currently run on gasoline or E85, building up the portion of the fleet capable of running on E85 gives the country an additional option to address potential future oil or critical mineral crises in a way that can protect our national security and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
Comments from American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings said they support “technology-neutral policies which provide market participants with a host of options for compliance, because the tasks of decarbonizing the transportation sector and maximizing fuel economy are too important and complex for a one-size-fits-all solution.”
ACE’s comments discuss 1) legal problems associated with the proposal including vehicles that operate only on electricity, 2) the economic feasibility of NHTSA’s proposed rule, 3) energy security and environmental concerns about the proposal, and 4) how high-octane fuels such as higher ethanol blends should be part of the solution to achieve fuel economy standards and reduce carbon pollution from transportation emissions.
The American Petroleum Institute (API) commented that the proposed standards “amount to a de facto ban on cars and trucks using liquid fuels, which can and should be a part of the solution to reduce carbon emissions.”
API supports technology-neutral policies at the federal level that drive greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions in the transportation sector, taking a holistic “all-of-the-above” approach to fuels, vehicles, and infrastructure systems.