WASHINGTON, DC — Yesterday, a familiar cast of anti-ethanol legislators introduced a measure targeted at halting the progress made under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). HR 5180, the Food and Fuel Consumer Protection Act of 2016 would limit the total volume of ethanol contained in transportation fuel to 9.7 percent. Growth Energy co-chair, Tom Buis released the following response:
“This bill is incredibly flawed because the ethanol industry is already producing over the bill’s 9.7 percent threshold and growing. Perhaps more importantly this bill would deal a blow to American consumers who have embraced ethanol as a less expensive, 21st century fuel that is higher performing and allows for consumer choice.
“Homegrown ethanol is an American success story that’s helped usher America’s path to energy independence with a clean-burning fuel that’s better for the air we breathe and our environment. American farmers have shown that they can feed and fuel the world and any claim that says we cannot have both food and fuel is simply a self-serving charge aimed at driving a specific agenda with no factual merit.
“The fact is that consumers are demanding and using higher blends of biofuels, like E15, because it is an advanced fuel with higher-octane levels that increases performance in 21st century vehicles. Furthermore, E15 burns cleaner, lowers toxic emissions, and saves consumers at the pump—facts the oil industry desperately attempts to blur with negative advertising campaigns and misleading legislation.
“This legislation is a measure that would move the clock backward and demolish the progress made under the RFS to move America forward in terms of energy independence, consumer choice at the pump, and a cleaner future.”
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