BUTLER COUNTY, IOWA – Senate Agriculture Committee members Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), along with the committee’s Ranking Member, Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), introduced the bipartisan Ethanol for America Act to make it easier for Americans to fuel their vehicles with homegrown E15.
The bill eliminates unnecessary barriers by requiring the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to finalize rulemaking from 2021 to make the E15 fuel label clearer and more consumer oriented. It would also confirm the compatibility of E15 with existing underground fuel storage and dispensing equipment, ensuring business owners are not required to make costly and unnecessary infrastructure changes.
“E15 is good, good, good: good for consumers, good for the environment and good for our national security. Today, we’re sending a strong message in support of E15, urging the administration to recognize its benefits,” Grassley said. “Much of our infrastructure for E10 can accommodate E15, and taking our requested actions would bolster our energy security, reduce costs for consumers and support rural America.”
“It’s no secret that access to E15 creates lower prices at the pump for consumers, value added to homegrown crops, stronger rural communities, and domestic energy dominance,” Ernst said. “I’m working to remove regulatory roadblocks and ensure biofuels are offered to folks filling up their cars using existing infrastructure at local gas stations across our nation. We cannot allow outdated red tape to stand in the way of unleashing the benefits of E15.”
The legislation is cosponsored by Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.). In the House, the bill is led by Reps. Adrian Smith (R-Neb.) and Nikki Budzinski (D-Ill.).
Click HERE to view text of the legislation.
Grassley, Ernst and Klobuchar also led a group of 17 Members of Congress in a letter calling on EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin to deem existing fuel infrastructure compatible with E15. The senators outline that:
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