Year-round E15 one step closer to reality
This morning, Representatives Angie Craig (D-MN) and Adrian Smith (R-NE) announced legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives to ensure E15 can be sold across the country all year long.
This is the latest action in a renewed effort to shepherd year-round E15 legislation through Congress.
- READ MORE: New E15 bill has backing of petroleum group
'A Huge Win'
E15, also known as Unleaded 88, is a fuel blend containing 15% ethanol. The fuel blend has long been locked out of the fuel market in the summer months in roughly two-thirds of the country due to a regulatory discrepancy that treats E15 differently from other ethanol fuel blends.
"If we're going to meaningfully impact corn demand with ethanol it needs to be through a reliable domestic market, and on that road, E15 may not be the last step but it's certainly the next step," says Monte Shaw, executive director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association. "So this would be a huge win for farmers."
Supporting Farmers
Representatives from farmer associations say uninterrupted consumer access to E15 will mean lower prices at the pump, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and support for American farmers.
"Farmers are really proud to stand behind the benefits of ethanol, particularly higher blends of ethanol like E15, and be contributing to that lower-cost, lower-emission fuel," says Kathy Bergren, director of public policy at the National Corn Growers Association.
Gaining Momentum
The House bill, named the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2022, has a companion bill in the U.S. Senate that was introduced last week.
This renewed legislative effort follows a letter to Congressional leaders in late November calling for Congress to act.
The letter was signed by a coalition of biofuel, agriculture, and oil organizations, including the American Petroleum Institute (API). It was the first time such a coalition was formed to support E15 legislation.
"Having API agree to a legislative fix really is a monumental step that hasn't happened before," says Anne Steckel, senior advisor to the National Farmers Union. "I think that it really can't be underscored that this letter and legislative action is a long time in the making."
Following this coalition letter, over 250 organizations, including ethanol producers, oil refiners, and fuel retailers have also urged Congress to pass a legislative fix for year-round E15.
"Our groups have come together—for the first time ever—to support legislation that would resolve this issue once and for all," the groups wrote.
