The Renewable Fuels Association today welcomed passage of the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act (H.R. 7606) in the House of Representatives and commended Democratic leadership and biofuel champions on both sides of the aisle for their efforts to deliver relief to American families facing record-high prices at the pump. Specifically, RFA applauded the bill’s permanent removal of barriers to selling lower-cost, lower-carbon ethanol blends like E15 all year long, as well as additional infrastructure funding that will support the expansion of low-carbon liquid fuels.
“By expanding the availability of cleaner, more-affordable ethanol blends, this legislation will help deliver immediate economic relief to American families who are feeling unprecedented pain at the pump,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “E15 typically sells for 10 to 40 cents per gallon less than regular E10 gasoline today, meaning consumers are saving several dollars each time they fill up their vehicle’s tank with E15 instead of E10. That means the typical household can save more than $300 on fuel expenses over the course of a year simply by choosing lower-carbon E15. RFA thanks Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Hoyer, and renewable fuel supporters from both parties for pushing this legislation over the goal line and delivering a win to hard-pressed American families dealing with inflationary pressures.”
In particular, the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act includes a permanent legislative fix for the summertime Reid Vapor Pressure waiver, extending the 1-psi waiver to blends of ten percent “or more.” The draft also includes $200 million in additional funding for higher blends infrastructure. In addition to the fuel-related policy, the package includes competition oversight in the meat and poultry industries, funding for nutrient management and precision agriculture investments, and food system supply chain resilience planning.
Cooper noted that E15 is approved for use by EPA and automakers in more than 97 percent of cars and trucks on the road today and investment in updated dispensers, tanks, pumps, and components that carry E15 and higher blends will offer all the blend’s benefits to more consumers.
On Monday, RFA sent a letter supporting the legislation to the bipartisan members of the House Biofuels Caucus.
