The US Renewable Fuel Standard and repeal, reform: The Digest’s 5 Minute-Guide

So, if the blend wall exists, does the RFS face repeal?

Representative Bill Cassidy (R-LA), joined a number of his Republican colleagues by acknowledging that full repeal will not happen in this Congress: “I’m a vote counter. I don’t think that there are frankly votes to repeal it. There’s just not.”

If repeal were to happen, though, Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) asked the panel what would happen to the ethanol industry. The advanced pool would take the hardest hit, agreed the panel, acknowledging that innovation would essentially cease. Bob Dinneen argued that while gasoline companies like using ethanol for the octane value, the market would still gradually shift away from using all types of ethanol.

Representative John Shimkus (R-IL) asked each of the panelists whether they were willing to come to the table and negotiate a compromise between full repeal and no action. “You don’t have enough for repeal. You do have enough for some reforms. So we had better get in the room and get it done.” Going down the table, he asked each of the panelists: “Can I get you all to commit to at least exploring something that is in-between?”

Jack Gerard: “We will work with you always…but the RFS is fundamentally broken”
Bob Dinneen: “The concerns can be addressed administratively, but I would like to work with you to make that happen.”
Charles Drevna: “Absolutely, if we agree what the facts are.”
Michael McAdams: “We would welcome the opportunity to work with you.”

In today’s Digest — a Great Compromise?;  The Blend Wall Issue; the RINs situation; is the Blend Wall and RFS-buster?; concerns about E15 ethanol; RFS impact on the food sector; diversifying the fuel supply; the real problems and immediate relief; and “a way forward?” – all by following the page links below.