Biofuels Supporters Push For Year-Round E15 In Farm Bill Amendment
Brownfield
Biofuels supporters say they’re cautiously optimistic that a new legislative proposal expanding sales of ethanol will finally move forward in Congress.
Brian Jennings, CEO of the American Coalition for Ethanol, says the measure —developed by the House Rural Domestic Energy Council – includes key policy changes. “I think on balance this is really well crafted. It’s carefully thought out. In addition to allowing E15 year-round, it would change the definition of a small refiner and frankly, make it more difficult for some of these what are really large refiners from winning exemptions from blending renewable fuels.”
Troy Bredenkamp is with the Renewable Fuels Association. “We’ve been asked for years to find an agreement and find a place where you can agree with the oil and gas sector. This particular package has about 90 to 95 percent of that liquid-fuel value chain in support of. I don’t think you’re going to get a much higher percentage than that.”
The proposal would provide nationwide, year-round E15 sales, allow EPA to grant Renewable Fuel Standard exemptions to small refiners facing extreme economic challenges and allow some refiners to ask EPA for an annual waiver if they’re converting to a renewable fuel production plant.
The language is an amendment to the farm bill, which could be debated next week by the U.S. House. Matt Ziegler with the National Corn Growers Association tells Brownfield, “We’ve been looking for any potential vehicle to move E15 for quite sometime now. The farm bill is presenting itself right now and we’re hopeful that’s a pathway.”
The Fueling American Jobs Coalition, which represents independent refiners and union workers, says the proposal ignores needed reforms, raises costs for consumers, and threatens U.S. fuel supply and refining jobs.