Ernst Applauds EPA for Advancing Proposed E15 Year-Round Rule

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, issued the following statement with regard to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed rule to allow the sale of E15 year-round and to improve renewable identification number (RIN) transparency.

“I’m thrilled to see the proposed rule for the year-round sale of E15 move forward. As the nation’s leader in ethanol production, Iowa farmers and producers are depending on this rule being in place by the summer driving season, to fulfill President Trump’s promise.

“When it comes to RINs, I will be reviewing what the Agency has proposed. It’s imperative that EPA creates more transparency in the RIN market and, in addition, takes a long, hard look at how they grant small refinery waivers. I hope we’re past the days of former Administrator Pruitt’s gross mishandling of the RFS and waiver process.”

Background:

Senator Ernst has worked tirelessly with the Trump Administration, specifically EPA, to remove the outdated restriction on the sale of E15 year-round by expanding the Reid vapor pressure (RVP) waiver to fuel blends up to 15 percent ethanol throughout the year. A few examples are below:

• Submitted comments to EPA Acting Administrator Wheeler on the proposed volume requirements under the RFS and urged the Agency to follow through on the President’s directive to remove the outdated restriction on the sale of E15 year-round.
• Questioned a Council of Environmental Quality (CEQ) nominee about the importance of biofuels for rural communities and the need to uphold the RFS.
• Pushed for year-round waiver for E15 in a letter to then EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt.
• Penned a letter to EPA asking then Administrator Pruitt to examine the burdensome regulation that makes it more difficult to sell gasoline with ethanol content above ten percent, such as E15 year-round.
• Awarded the 2018 Fueling Growth Award by Growth Energy for her work to advance renewable fuels like ethanol and to increase consumer choice at the pump.
• Pushed for legislation that would remove unnecessary regulatory hurdles that keep E15 and higher blends of ethanol from being sold year-round across the country.
• Questioned USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue on the agency’s efforts to protect the RFS and the 88,000 farms across Iowa and 50,000 jobs tied to the renewable fuels industry.
• Demanded commitments from Administrator Wheeler during his confirmation hearing in meeting the summer driving season deadline.

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