(November 15, 2011) Washington – The Renewable Fuels Association has labeled yet another attempt by Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) to deny American consumers the choice of using E15 ethanol blends as “missing the point.”

The Sensenbrenner bill would modify the Clean Air Act to force the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to include fuel efficiency and engine durability testing as part of its efforts to certify new fuels.  Rep. Sensenbrenner contends that Americans should have “trust” in their fuels, implying that EPA’s recent approval of E15 ethanol blends is not trustworthy.

Responding to this shortsighted approach, the RFA issued the following statement:

“Congressman Sensenbrenner is missing the point with his attempts to thwart America’s expanded use of domestically-produced renewable fuels.  Not only has EPA thoroughly tested E15 – enough to make approximately 4,700 round trips from Washington to Milwaukee – it has carefully crafted a label and misfueling plan to ensure that consumers are properly and legally using increased levels of ethanol in gasoline.  The RFA believes that American drivers and consumers are smart enough to follow directions.

“More to the point, ethanol has been a proven fuel in the U.S. for 30 years with all autos and most marine and small engine makers approving the use of 10% ethanol.  To suggest that ethanol is a fuel Americans cannot trust is flat out wrong.  The real question about trust should focus on what Congress is trying to do to make America less reliant of imported oil.  Amendments like this do nothing to reduce the flow of American wealth to hostile nation’s seeking to do us harm.”