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Action Required: Year-Round E15

Due to the July 2021 D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling, which rejected EPA’s rulemaking to extend the seasonal 1.0 psi Reid vapor pressure (RVP) waiver to E15, Americans who want to save money at the pump while making a smart choice for the environment may no longer be able to access higher biofuel blends in certain parts of the country during the summer driving season.

 

As you know, rolling back the seasonal RVP waiver would prevent drivers across the country from accessing affordable, available fuel blends, like E15, and increase consumption of fossil fuels. In the last decade, American families have selected E15 to fuel nearly 25 billion miles driven because it is a lower-cost, higher-octane option at the pump, saving drivers up to $0.10 per gallon. Restricting summertime sales of E15 would increase costs for drivers, and allow oil companies to pocket as much as a $3.4 billion windfall with cleaner, more affordable biofuel blends pushed out of the market.

 

In Congress, our champions are working to remedy this setback. Growth Energy supports the passage of the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act (S.2239) and the Year-Round Fuel Choice Act (H.R. 4410) to permanently extend the seasonal RVP waiver to E15.

 

We're counting on you to help us spread the word and tell Congress to pass legislation to permanently lift outdated, seasonal restrictions on the sale of E15. Share this call to action on your social media and hold Congress accountable!

IN GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

Sen. Grassley Defends RFS on the Senate Floor

I usually do not care to comment on these bills. It simply isn't worth my time. But when I see the combination of false information spread in messaging bills that could negatively impact my state, I must set the record straight.

 

Several colleagues just introduced a bill to repeal the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). I've been a proud advocate for renewable energy. Iowa is a leader in both wind and renewable fuels. When it comes to the RFS, it is hard to argue there has ever been a more successful clean fuels policy implemented across the world. Between 2008 and 2020, the use of biofuels under the RFS resulted in a savings of 980 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. That's the equivalent to removing over 200 million cars from the road for one year.

 

The RFS makes gasoline more affordable, generates good-paying jobs, reduces oil imports and reduces our country's greenhouse gas emissions.

 

The messaging coming from the bill rehashes the same talking points about ethanol that Big Oil has trotted out for the past decades. Of course, Big Oil's talking points have been completely debunked by the latest science and the non-partisan research from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).

 

My pro-oil colleagues say that the RFS causes food and feed prices to rise. However, in 2014, the CBO looked at the impact on food prices if the RFS was fully repealed. The CBO concluded that American food prices would be just one quarter of one percent higher if the RFS was kept in place versus total repeal. Out of a $100 grocery bill, the impact is no more than a quarter. But when you consider that there is a savings of $5 every time you fill up at the gas station due to the RFS, consumers save money overall with the RFS in place.

 

My colleagues also claimed, falsely, that corn ethanol achieves little to no reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. This might be the most ridiculous assertion. I'd like to invite my colleagues to visit Iowa to see just how far ethanol has come in emission reductions. The most recent research from Harvard shows that corn ethanol's greenhouse gas emissions are 46 percent lower than gasoline. Research by USDA found the reduction in CO2 could reach 71 percent by next year if farmers follow best practices.

 

At a time when our nation is working to reduce fossil fuel consumption and protect our environment, why would my colleagues introduce a bill that would increase our dependence on foreign oil and increase greenhouse gas emissions?

 

Renewable fuels like ethanol have a forty-year track record of making fuel more affordable and vehicles more efficient. To limit this consumer choice at the pump is completely irresponsible. Attempts to limit consumer choice, which are driven by Big Oil interests, must be defeated.

 

The United States should continue to build on the progress of the RFS and bring policy to the table that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and brings jobs to rural America."

Sen. Fischer: More choices and cleaner fuel at the gas pump

percent ethanol – to be sold year-round," wrote Fischer. "Without this rule, E15 can only be sold from September to May in most areas of the country, leaving consumers with fewer choices during the busy summer months.

 

"In their decision, the D.C. Circuit said that Congress didn’t intend for the EPA to apply this rule to E15. I recently introduced a bill to make it clear that we do.

 

"The Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, which I reintroduced with Senator Amy Klobuchar in response to the ruling, offers a common-sense solution to this problem. Our bill would reinstate the waiver that allowed high-ethanol blends like E15 to be sold all year. This would give consumers a wider array of options at the pump and provide ethanol producers with the certainty they need to do their jobs."

Rep. Craig: Its time to make long-lasting and transformative investments in biofuels

communities and addressing the generational challenges we face as a nation, including tools to address climate change," wrote Craig. "That’s exactly why I’m a supporter of biofuels. Biofuels offer predictability for farmers, drive economic growth and investment in rural America and decrease the carbon intensity of our transportation sector. These benefits are why I am pushing for immediate policy and budget changes to ensure that biofuels remain a key part of this country’s transition to renewable energy. 

 

"Minnesota is no stranger to renewable fuels like ethanol and is the fourth-largest producer of corn in the United States. Right now, more than half of the district I represent is covered by corn and soybeans. With 19 ethanol plants in our state, this activity contributes between $1 and $2 billion to Minnesota’s GDP annually and last year supported nearly 14,500 full-time jobs. Over the past several years, biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel have helped keep our family farms afloat — even as growers and producers across the country have struggled with overseas trade uncertainty, volatile markets and a global pandemic that disrupted supply chains around the world."

For more information, please contact Vice President of Government Affairs John Fuher.

IN OUR ASSOCIATION

Growth Energy Welcomes Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board as New Associate Member

We are pleased to announce the addition of Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board to Growth Energy. Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board directs research, new product development, international marketing and education to expand the market opportunities and sales of Wisconsin corn.

 

"Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board is excited to join Growth Energy and continue to invest in developing markets for corn grown in Wisconsin," said Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board President Tom Gillis.

 

Please join the us in giving Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board a warm welcome! Learn more about their company here.

For more information, please contact Vice President of Membership Kelly Manning.

IN LEGAL

Four Years Later, EPA Has Failed to Restore 500 Million Lost RIN Gallons

Yesterday marked the four-year anniversary of the July 2017 ruling in Americans for Clean Energy v. EPA. The 2017 ruling required EPA to address its improper waiver of 500 million gallons for 2016 renewable fuel blending requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). To date, EPA has failed to reconsider the 2016 RVO and has not restored the 500 million lost RIN gallons. Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor released the following statement on the case:

 

“Four years ago to the day, EPA was directed by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to address 500 million improperly waived gallons of biofuels,” said Skor. “This is a frustrating anniversary for America’s farmers and biofuel producers, as the Court has required EPA to update it on the status of these lost gallons on a regular basis, to no avail. EPA must take responsibility for these inappropriately waived gallons and follow the D.C. Circuit Court’s ruling. EPA owes it to America’s biofuel producers to return the gallons as a part of its commitment to cleaner, renewable fuel.”

IN REGULATORY AFFAIRS

State Update: California, Nevada, and Washington

California

As you may recall, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) is developing its Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) regulations. These regulations will seek to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from new light- and medium-duty vehicle beyond the 2025 model year, and increase the number of zero-emission vehicles for sale. Growth Energy recently submitted comments in conjunction with CARB's workshop on ACC II and on the importance of including higher blends of biofuels in its final draft.

 

CARB is hosting a public webinar on August 11 on these regulations to present ACC II's goals and accept feedback. All are encouraged and welcome to join.

Nevada

On August 2nd, the Nevada Department of Agriculture will hold an information session as they develop their regulation to allow the sale of E15.  The regulation move comes as a result of the approval of Assembly Bill 411 earlier this year, which Growth Energy applauded. Upon its passage, CEO Emily Skor released the following statement:

 

“By signing AB411 into law, Governor Sisolak is providing Nevadans with the opportunity save money at the pump and fill up with the plant-based biofuels like E15, a fuel blended with fifteen percent renewable ethanol,” said Skor. “Nevadans will soon have the choice to fuel up with plant-based biofuels through E15, a simple choice that not only saves them money at the pump but will also benefit the earth. We’re looking forward to working with retailers across the state to add E15 to their fuel offerings so Nevadans have greater access a liquid fuel that reduces their carbon emissions.”

 

Washington

The Washington State Department of Ecology has initiated the process on the development of their clean fuel standard, including notices to say they’re implementing the law that was passed earlier this year.  Additional information can be found here. Growth Energy will be engaging with the Department as they move forward with the process to ensure biofuels are included.

For more information, please contact Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley.

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