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Full Senate Committee hearing on Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act

The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works is considering a bill that ethanol supporters say would lift burdensome regulations on E15.

During a full legislative hearing this morning, Nebraska Senator Deb Fischer explained why she sponsored the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act.

“Our bill would ensure retailers can offer consumers consistent choices at the pump year-round with less confusion and red tape.”

The bill extends the Reid Vapor Pressure waiver to 15 percent and higher blends of ethanol.

Advanced Biofuels Business Council director Brooke Coleman testified in favor of the legislation, saying E15 is better for the environment than E10.

“The glitch is that higher ethanol blends like E15, while being cleaner and actually lower vapor pressure, are not granted the same waiver.”

Clean Air Task Force senior council Jonathan Lewis disagreed, citing concerns with climate impact related to additional ethanol production and the possibility that greater use of E15 will increase ozone formation.

“According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s own data, the additional corn ethanol produced in response to the expansion of the RFS has higher life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions than gasoline.”

Mike Lorenz, executive vice president of gas station chain Sheetz, says the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act benefits their customers by providing a cheaper and better performing choice at the pump all year.