ST. LOUIS (July 14, 2021) – The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) thanks bipartisan members of Congress in both the House and Senate for their continued support of corn growers and rural America through the introduction of legislation that would ensure higher blends of ethanol, specifically E15, are available in the marketplace year-round. Led by Representatives Angie Craig (D-Minn.), Adrian Smith (R-Neb.) and co-chairs of the House Biofuels Caucus, 22 House members introduced H.R. 4410, the Year-Round Fuel Choice Act. In the Senate, Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), led introduction of the Consumer and Fuel Retailers Choice Act with 10 bipartisan cosponsors.
“Corn growers stand behind the many benefits of higher ethanol blends like E15 and support ensuring its continued access to the marketplace on the same terms as standard ten percent blends. E15 is lower in carbon, tailpipe and evaporative emissions, not to mention lower in price, so it’s no surprise oil companies have tried to shut it down through the courts,” said John Linder, National Corn Growers Association President. “NCGA appreciates the bipartisan leadership of Representatives and Senators toward a durable solution that would allow continued market access and expansion for proven low carbon fuel in E15 and stands ready to work with Congress and the EPA to provide certainty for consumers, retailers, our environment and rural economies.”
The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals vacated a 2019 rule by the Environmental Protection Agency that removed outdated regulatory barriers to the sale of a fifteen percent ethanol fuel blend, E15 or Unleaded 88. The case, American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, et al. vs. EPA, was a challenge by oil refiners to the rulemaking that extended the same treatment 10 percent ethanol blends receive to E15, allowing year-round market access for E15. Growth Energy, the Renewable Fuels Association, and the National Corn Growers Association joined the litigation as intervenors in support of EPA’s rule of EPA. NCGA will continue to pursue all options to prevent impact on retailers and drivers this summer and to ensure a long-term solution before next summer.
You can read additional background on the Court decisions and the intervenors’ statement here.
