It should come as no shock to anyone that the deadline for the “E15 Rural Domestic Energy Council” to come up with legislation for Congress came and went February 15 without any notice and the House of Representatives is off this week, making it unlikely anything will be done before the end of the month. But the ethanol industry remains determined to get this issue resolved after fighting for so many years.
The Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy, and the National Corn Growers Association released a joint statement Tuesday regarding the lack of progress toward a permanent, legislative fix offering consumers year-round access to E15.
“Year-round, nationwide E15 is an urgent priority for rural America, and it can’t wait. House leaders already have bipartisan, consensus legislation that has broad support from the overwhelming majority of biofuels, agriculture, fuel retail, and oil refining interests. The solution is on the table, and we urge council members to refocus their attention on proposals that already have widespread support. Year-round E15 will deliver real savings for hard-working families and open a reliable market for U.S. farmers struggling to stay afloat. We cannot allow a tiny handful of mid-sized refiners to take year-round E15 hostage while demanding outlandish handouts, just to line their pockets at the expense of everyone else,” said RFA President & CEO Geoff Cooper, Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor, and Ohio farmer and National Corn Growers Association President Jed Bower.
The “Council” was just created on January 22, after Congress failed to adopt E15 legislation as part of the recent appropriations bill, and charged with developing “legislative solutions to address the crisis facing our nation’s farmers and refiners.”
Directed to “investigate topics including, but not limited to, the sale of Ethanol-15, U.S. refinery capacity, the Renewable Fuel Standard Program, Renewable Identification Numbers, access to markets, and federal regulations that hinder American energy dominance,” the council was to develop “legislative solutions” by February 15 to be considered no later than February 25. Reps. Stephanie Bice (R-OK) and Randy Feenstra (R-IA), were assigned as co-chairs of the council.
The council has faced criticism for only including Republicans and has been unable to overcome opposition from a handful of refineries that would stand to lose access to exemptions from the Renewable Fuel Standard.
Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Executive Director Monte Shaw said the industry cannot afford to give up on this issue. “This is no time for quitting on E15,” said Shaw. “Farmers and consumers are counting on Congress and President Trump to finish the job for E15….Congress needs to prove it can function, because we’re getting fed up with the dysfunction.”
While February 15 has passed, Shaw points out the rule authorizing the Council gave until the end of the month for floor action on E15.