U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, has joined a bipartisan effort, led by U.S. Sens. John Thune, R-South Dakota, and Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, in urging President Biden to permit the year-round sale of E15 fuel in order to reduce the United States’ reliance on foreign sources of energy.
The senators note that American biofuels are a clean and reliable energy solution that will help drive down fuel costs for consumers who are facing record-high prices at the pump.
“As the United States joins global partners in seeking to hold accountable and isolate the Russian Federation for its unprovoked assault on Ukraine, we must deny Russia’s economic lifeblood of energy dominance,” the senators wrote. “This will require tapping every accessible contribution of American energy technology. As you know, American biofuels are one such readily available energy solution that offer consumers affordable and cleaner options at the pump.”
Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor says the message from both sides of the aisle in Congress is clear — “we need more homegrown, low-carbon solutions to address rising gas prices.”
“Biofuels are a ready solution to help provide consumers with lower costs at the pump,” Skor says, adding Growth Energy supports the bipartisan push to increase access to E15 and displace a greater share of imported oil.
The Renewable Fuels Association also chimed in support. President and CEO Geoff Cooper says ethanol is $1 per gallon cheaper than gasoline today, meaning higher blends like E15 can help put a lid on rising gas prices and deliver economic relief to Americans.
“The emergency action recommended by these Senators would remove a key roadblock that restricts consumer access to lower-priced E15, and we encourage EPA to immediately act upon this request,” Cooper says.
This letter was signed by 13 other Republicans and Democrats from across the Midwest, including from Ohio, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, North Dakota, Kansas and Michigan.
See the letter: https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/a0d6f380-cb8f-491b-97ad-0457dbceced7/878E033EE21664ABB20346C35CE8C12D.e15.pdf
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