DES MOINES – Wednesday, Nov. 30, Senators Ernst and Grassley, along with Senators Fischer, Thune, Marshall, Moran, Cramer, and Sasse introduced the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act that would extend the 1-psi summertime Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) volatility wavier to blends of ethanol above 10%, allowing for the permanent sale of E15 year-round.
“This is exciting news and I encourage its quick passage through Congress so that it can be signed into law,” said Gov. Reynolds. “Thank you to Senators Grassley and Ernst for leading this charge at the federal level.”
This past spring, Gov. Reynolds led a letter to the EPA, along with seven other Midwest Governors formally requesting a permanent RVP waiver that will allow each state to continue selling E15 year-round without restriction. The federal Clean Air Act gives governors the specific authority to make this formal request. Combined, these eight states make up over 10% of U.S. gasoline sales.
Iowa’s state-level action has opened the door for a national solution. For the first time in history, both the American Petroleum Institute and the Renewable Fuels Association support the same piece of legislation for a national solution to year-round E15.
Iowa Farm Bureau Federation President Brent Johnson was quick to respond saying in a press release, “Iowa’s farmers applaud the introduction of the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, which would increase the availability of homegrown biofuels, like E15, and deliver profound economic and environmental benefits.”
Biofuels, Johnson said, provide a national sustainable energy solution. “And this bill would end years of regulatory uncertainty and state-by-state regulation, instead providing clarity and uniformity while protecting potential disruptions to our national fuel supply chain. The environmental benefits of ethanol as a cleaner burning fuel can’t be understated, as recent studies have shown that greenhouse gas emissions from corn ethanol are more than 40% lower than gasoline alone.”
Johnson added, “This bill marks the first time that biofuel producers and the oil industry have been united on a path forward to ensure the long-term success of biofuels.” The lack of long-term certainty, he said, “has constrained biofuels from being fully integrated into fuel markets, and this bill provides solutions that benefit the environment, consumers, and rural communities.”