North Central Region Senators Introduce Bill to Expand Market for Biofuels

Last week, Senators Grassley (R-IA), Fischer (R-NE) and Donnelly (D-IN) introduced a bill known as the “Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act” which would extend the reid vapor pressure (RVP) waiver to ethanol blends above 10 percent. The bill would allow retailers across the country to sell E15 and other higher-ethanol/gasoline fuel blends year-round. Each year, the EPA regulates RVP for gasoline and gasoline-ethanol blended from June 1 until September 15. During these months, the EPA restricts the retail sale of fuels with ethanol above 10 percent.

PMAA opposes this bill due to concerns with compatibility and liability issues with any fuel above an E10 blend. PMAA will continue to pursue a cap on the maximum amount of ethanol blended into gasoline at 9.7 percent because PMAA believes that capping the ethanol mandate at this level is the most effective way to lower the value of RINS and, in turn, allow small business retailers to compete on a level playing field.