With the end of the lame-duck session of Congress approaching, a group of 15 U.S. senators introduced a bill last week that would allow the year-round, nationwide sale of ethanol blends higher than 10%.
The group was led by U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Deb Fischer, R-Neb. — both members of the Senate Agriculture Committee — who introduced bipartisan legislation to make E15 available year round. The Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2022 would enable the year-round, nationwide sale of ethanol blends higher than 10%. Its goal is to help lower fuel prices and provide certainty in fuel markets for farmers and consumers.
“I have long pushed to make E15 available year-round because investing in affordable, readily available biofuels produced in the U.S. is good for drivers and farmers alike,” Klobuchar said in a statement. “By ensuring consumers can access E15 gasoline throughout the year, our bipartisan legislation will benefit our economy, decrease prices at the pump, and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. It’s critical that we diversify our fuel supply and invest in affordable energy solutions.”
The Consumer and Retailer Choice Act of 2022 would allow for the year-round, nationwide sale of E15 by permanently extending Reid vapor pressure volatility waiver to ethanol blends above 10%. The bill would also prohibit the removal of the 1-psi waiver for E10 ethanol. This is meant to ensure uniformity across fuel markets and to prevent a patchwork of regulations from disrupting the national fuel supply chain.
“We’ve long known that unleashing the full power of ethanol saves consumers money at the pump, supports family farmers, and boosts U.S. energy security," Fischer said in a statement. "Now, however, we’ve been able to bring critical oil/gas, biofuel, ag, and transportation stakeholders to the table around a common-sense solution. With this strong coalition of support, it’s time Congress act to make year-round E15 a reality."
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In addition to Klobuchar and Fischer, the legislation is sponsored by senators:
- Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill.
- Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa
- Tina Smith, D-Minn.
- John Thune, R-S.D.
- Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio
- Joni Ernst, R-Iowa
- Roger Marshall, R-Kan.
- Dick Durbin, D-Ill.
- Jerry Moran, R-Kan.
- Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis.
- Kevin Cramer, R-N.D.
- Ben Sasse, R-Neb.
- Mike Rounds, R-S.D.
“Making E15 available year-round is a win for Minnesota’s economy, drivers, and the climate,” Smith said. “Our country needs smart climate solutions like E-15 — an affordable, cleaner fuel that lowers carbon emissions. Ethanol is a vital piece of Minnesota’s economy, and accounts for around $7 billion in economic output in our state.”
The legislation has been endorsed by the American Petroleum Institute, National Corn Growers Association, National Farmers Union, the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Sorghum Producers, Association of Equipment Manufacturers, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy, SIGMA, National Association of Truck Stop Operators and the National Association of Convenience Stores.
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