Earlier today, the House Science Committee approved a bill that would require even more study of E15 blends than the millions of miles of testing already conducted by the Dept. of Energy and EPA. 

The Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen responded to the bill, sponsored by WI Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R), with the following statement: 

"With many members of Congress complaining about the federal government impeding the ability of small businesses to create jobs, this bill would inject parochial politics into the scientifically established process of approving new fuels.  In approving E15, the Department of Energy tested vehicles over millions of driving miles - the equivalent of some 4,700 round trips from Washington to Milwaukee.  To suggest more testing is needed is nothing more than a stall tactic that has but one outcome – our continued addiction to oil."

"This bill is a perfect example of Congress trying address a problem that doesn't exist.  Understandably, concerns will be raised any time a new fuel is introduced.  The concerns raised, however, are largely superficial and do not require the intervention of Congress to resolve.  America's ethanol industry has been working with auto companies and fuel suppliers for over a year to address any concerns and misconceptions that persist.  This bill would reverse the progress private industry has already achieved and threaten the job creation that would stem from an increased use of domestic renewable fuels."

The Clean Air Act is very clear as to the method for approving new fuels and fuel additives and has been used successfully to introduce a wide range of fuels including E10 and Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel.  In fact, the approval of E15 for model year 2001 and newer vehicles represented the most exhaustive testing of a new fuel ever conducted.