House bill filed as companion to Senate bill ensuring year-round E15

In Washington, the prospect of permanent, nationwide availability of the E15 ethanol blend moves closer with new House legislation that will end an arcane impediment to making the fuel more widely available, the Renewable Fuels Association said. The organization thanked Reps. Angie Craig (D-MN) and Adrian Smith (R-NE) for their leadership on the bill, co-sponsored by 21 additional House members.  

Specifically, the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2022 would harmonize fuel volatility regulations for ethanol-blended fuels across the country, allowing for the year-round sale of E15 in conventional gasoline markets. It also would supersede an effort by Midwest state governors to make regulatory changes that would assure the availability of E15 sales year-round in their states.

Last week, the White House Office of Management and Budget began its official review of the request from the governors, which means the petition remains on track for approval before summer 2023, as outlined by EPA Administrator Michael Regan a few months ago.

The bill the House filed last week is a companion to bipartisan Senate legislation introduced on Nov. 29 by Sens. Deb Fischer (R-NE), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and 13 other senators.