Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Boost Ethanol

Legislation introduced last week by Midwest lawmakers would extend the Reid vapor pressure (RVP) waiver to ethanol blends higher than 10 percent. The legislation, called the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, would increase market access opportunities for higher blends of ethanol. It would allow retailers across the nation to sell E15 and other higher-ethanol blends year-round.

Lawmakers behind the bill were Sens. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., and Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa; and Reps. Adrian Smith, R-Neb., and Dave Loebsack, D-Iowa,

The U.S. EPA regulates RVP, which is a measure of how quickly fuel evaporates, for gasoline and gasoline-ethanol blended from June 1 until Sept. 15. During these months, the EPA restricts the retail sale of fuels with ethanol above 10 percent. Only higher blends that go through extra and more costly refining may be sold to consumers during this time. Retailers are forced to change fuels or labeling during the summer fueling season. The Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act would allow retailers to sell E15 all year long without going through the approval process.

Prior to introduction of the legislation, the Governors’ Biofuels Coalition drafted a document for President Trump that spelled out a series of opportunities for Washington to support the biofuel industry.

The governors listed at the top of their list the opportunity to provide parity for E10 and higher ethanol blends.

Also on their list was the opportunity for the EPA to update its lifecycle carbon findings, as well as an opportunity for the EPA to enforce the Renewable Fuel Standard as approved by Congress.