Members of the Congressional E15 Rural Domestic Energy Council are hoping the farm bill might be the vehicle to finally get E15 legislation on the road to passage.
Reps. Michelle Fischbach, Randy Feenstra, Stephanie Bice, and Adrian Smith introduced amendment to the House farm bill Wednesday which would permit the sale of E15 year-round nationwide and finalize rulemaking to recognize E15 compatibility with existing infrastructure and equipment.
The legislation would also clarify the definition of “small refinery” and beginning in 2028 permit RFS compliance exemptions for reasons including “imminent risk of closure, permanent idling, or conversion to a renewable fuel production facility.”
The Renewable Fuels Association is now urging House members of both parties to support the amendment. “This amendment would permanently allow for year-round, nationwide sales of lower-cost E15 at a time when American consumers are facing high gas prices and our nation’s farmers are in desperate need of new market opportunities. The amendment strikes the right balance for the many stakeholders who came to the table and engaged in good faith with the House council over the past several months, and we believe it is broadly supportable by agriculture, oil refining, biofuels, and fuel retail interests,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper.
American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings said, “Certain refiners have been holding E15 legislation hostage for far too long and Americans are feeling significant pain at the pump. Congress needs to decide if it will finally allow lower-cost E15 to be sold nationwide or let refiners continue to block Americans from saving money at the pump. Ongoing Middle East market instability underscores the urgency of this action, and we look forward to working with Republican and Democratic champions of E15 in both the House and Senate to get this across the finish line.”
However, Agri-Pulse reports independent oil refiners say the latest congressional push to get more U.S. corn ethanol into fuel tanks is dead on arrival.