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Members of House Biofuels Caucus introduce Year-Round Fuel Choice Act

Two members of the House Biofuels Caucus have introduced legislation to ensure EPA has the authority to make E15 and higher blends of ethanol available year-round.

Minnesota Democrat Angie Craig and Nebraska Republican Adrian Smith are announcing the Year-Round Fuel Choice Act in response to a recent D.C. Circuit Court decision which struck down an EPA rule allowing E15 to be sold year-round.

Speaking to Brownfield before the bill was unveiled, Craig said the biofuels industry has been dealt a couple of “gut punches” in the past few weeks and needs the support of Congress.

“That’s why I’m currently having discussions with my colleagues about some legislative language around Reid Vapor Pressure waivers and E15, and how best we could address the issues from a legislative fix.”

She says it’s long past time that the year-round sale of renewable fuels was made permanent.

Representative Smith says with the recent D.C. Circuit Court ruling, it’s imperative congressional intent is clarified once and for all that there’s no reason E15 should not have the same regulatory relief as E10.

Fellow House Biofuels Caucus members including Iowa Democrat Cindy Axne are expressing support for the Year-Round Fuel Choice Act.  Axne says she’s proud to work with her colleagues to quickly introduce this necessary legislation to make clear that EPA has the authority to approve year-round E15.

The bill is also supported by Growth Energy, the Renewable Fuels Association, American Coalition for Ethanol, and the National Corn Growers Association.

Companion legislation called the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act has been introduced in the Senate by Nebraska Republican Deb Fischer and Minnesota Democrat Amy Klobuchar.

Other House Biofuels Caucus members from Brownfield states who are leading this effort include Illinois Republican Rodney Davis, South Dakota Republican Dusty Johnson, and Wisconsin Democrat Mark Pocan.