Permanent, Nationwide Solution with Strong Support from Biofuel & Oil Stakeholders

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), members of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today led the reintroduction of the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act. The legislation would allow the year-round, nationwide sale of ethanol blends higher than 10% — ending years of regulatory uncertainty and preventing a patchwork of uneven state regulations. Increasing the availability of biofuels like E15 would benefit the economy and the environment.

Importantly, the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2023 has support from a wide mix of stakeholders, including the National Corn Growers Association, Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy, and the American Petroleum Institute.

Additional cosponsors of the bill include U.S. Senators John Thune (R-S.D.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), and John Hoeven (R-N.D.).

“Our bipartisan legislation is the only permanent, nationwide solution to unleashing the power of year-round E15. It’s why we’ve been able to bring together a diverse group of stakeholders from the oil/gas, biofuel, ag, and transportation sectors to support our legislation. Negating the need for a patchwork of regulations will ensure all Americans can enjoy lower costs at the pump. With this unique coalition of support, I’m more optimistic than ever that we can make year-round E15 a reality,” said Senator Fischer.

“I have long pushed to make E15 available year-round because investing in affordable, readily-available biofuels produced in the U.S. is good for drivers and farmers alike. By ensuring consumers can access E15 gasoline throughout the year, our bipartisan legislation will benefit our economy, decrease prices at the pump, and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. It’s critical that we diversify our fuel supply and invest in affordable energy solutions. I look forward to working with Senator Fischer to pass this bipartisan bill,” said Senator Klobuchar.

“E15 eases the cost for American consumers at the pump and is a valuable source of renewable energy. Allowing year-round sales of E15 just makes sense, both financially and environmentally. This bill is welcome news for drivers and farmers across the country, especially those in Iowa, the nation’s leading biofuel producer,” said Senator Grassley.

“American drivers have enjoyed year-round access to cleaner and more affordable E15 fuel for four years, and it’s time to make this permanent. I’m proud to support this legislation that would give South Dakota farmers and fuel retailers the certainty they need to offer E15 fuel without seasonal disruption and provide consumers with this lower-cost fuel option,” said Senator Thune.

"E15 allows more drivers to choose biofuels at the pump, which reduces carbon emissions, dependence on foreign oil, and fuel costs.  It’s good for Illinois farmers, and it’s good for rural jobs. I'm proud to join my colleagues in reintroducing the bipartisan Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act to ensure E15 remains for sale year-round,” said Senator Durbin.

“E15 is a cleaner, cheaper choice at the pump for our consumers. Our bipartisan effort will ensure E15 is available year-round and bring much-needed certainty to our Iowa farmers, consumers, and retailers,” said Senator Ernst.

“High costs of living are costing American families hundreds of dollars a month. We owe it to them to use every tool we have to save them money at the pump. Nebraskans know year-round E15 sales have endless benefits like saving families money, benefiting the environment, and supporting Nebraska farmers and producers.  It also lowers our dependence on foreign oil and moves us closer to energy independence. I’m grateful to Senator Fischer for her leadership on this issue and look forward to getting E15 sold nationwide all year-long,” said Senator Ricketts.

“Biofuels are a homegrown energy solution that help cut the price at the pump, reduce our reliance on foreign countries’ oil, and support Wisconsin’s farmers and producers. I am excited to join this legislation with my Democratic and Republican colleagues to ensure cleaner E15 fuel is available year-round, supporting jobs in rural communities and our Made in America economy,” said Senator Baldwin.

“Our legislation is about ensuring a consistent regulatory approach to the sale of E15 across our nation, providing certainty to our agriculture and biofuel producers and giving travelers more options at the pump,” said Senator Hoeven.

“Our country needs smart climate solutions like E-15 – an affordable, cleaner fuel that lowers carbon emissions. By allowing E15 sales year-round, this bipartisan legislation would expand opportunity for Minnesota farmers and biofuel producers, lower fuel prices for families, and reduce emissions. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get this bill passed,” said Senator Smith.

“North Dakota consumers and producers deserve regulatory consistency, and allowing the year-round sale of E15 is a great place to start. This bill gives Americans across the country more choices and stabilizes the market so North Dakota’s ethanol producers can meet the demand,” said Senator Cramer.

“In order for our country to remain a global energy leader, we must continue to invest in renewable and clean energy so we can decrease our emissions and dependence on foreign oil. Producing less expensive fuel choices like E15 year-round will save families money at the pump, while strengthening our nation and driving economic opportunity throughout the Midwest, and I’m proud to join my colleagues to re-introduce legislation to help make that happen,” said Senator Duckworth.

“Consumers and retailers deserve the choice of having E15 at the pump year round. This legislation will help maximize American agriculture’s role as an energy solution, as well as reduce emissions in the transportation sector. I will keep fighting to ensure full market access to E15, which increases our nation’s supply of reliable energy and provides additional economic benefits to the domestic fuel supply,” said Senator Marshall.

The full list of bill endorsements includes:

Agriculture: National Corn Growers Association, National Farmers Union, the America Farm Bureau Federation, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives

Biofuels: Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy, American Coalition for Ethanol

Oil/Natural Gas Sector: American Petroleum Institute

Transportation: SIGMA, National Association of Truck Stop Operators, National Association of Convenience Stores

Click here to read the text of the bill.

Click here to read more information on the bill and past Fischer actions on biofuels.

U.S. Representatives Adrian Smith (R-Neb.) and Angie Craig (D-Minn.) introduced companion legislation in the House.

National Stakeholder Support:

“The choice of low-cost, low-emission E15 at the pump saves drivers millions of dollars a year and increases the fuel supply to improve our energy security. We thank Sens. Fischer and Klobuchar and their bipartisan cosponsors for again leading on this needed solution to resolve an outdated barrier to consumer choice.  There’s no reason for market access for a safe, clean and affordable fuel option to be in question, and we urge Congress to pass this commonsense legislation,” said Tom Haag, President of the National Corn Growers Association.

“Securing national and permanent market access for E15 year-round is best done through Congress and we are enormously grateful for the leadership of Sens. Fischer, Klobuchar, and other Senators for introducing this legislation to clarify the statute once and for all. Given the urgency to ensure uninterrupted market access for 2023, ACE is pushing for passage of this legislation and other options to unleash the cost saving benefits of E15 this summer,” said Brian Jennings, CEO of the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE).

“We applaud Senators Fischer and Klobuchar for introducing legislation that strengthens the reliability of the fuel supply chain and ensures American consumers have access to the fuels they depend on every day. By allowing for the year-round sale of E15 nationwide while also preserving access to lower ethanol gasoline blends, this bipartisan legislation brings much-needed consistency and long-term certainty to the marketplace. We’re hopeful that Congress will recognize the broad and diverse support that this bill has already received and work quickly to pass it into law,” said Will Hupman, Vice President of Downstream Policy at the American Petroleum Institute.

“We thank Sen. Fischer, Sen. Klobuchar, and other renewable fuel supporters in the Senate for introducing this legislation, which brings much-needed consistency and stability to the marketplace. Ethanol producers, oil refiners, fuel retailers, equipment manufacturers, and farmers have all come together to support this commonsense legislation that ensures year-round availability of lower-cost, lower-carbon E15 at the pump. As war in Ukraine continues to wreak havoc on global energy markets, this bill helps keep gas prices in check and extends the U.S. fuel supply. We are highly encouraged by the diverse support this effort is receiving, and we urge Congress to move quickly to adopt this legislation,” said Geoff Cooper, President and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association.

“Without action, the fast-approaching summer driving season could be the first since 2019 without lower-cost E15 blends. This legislation represents an immediate solution that will deliver savings for drivers, lower carbon emissions, and offer greater protection from the global turmoil that continues to cast a shadow over our energy security. There is no reason to keep biofuels from America’s heartland bottled up, especially based on an outdated regulation. We are grateful to Senator Klobuchar, Senator Fischer and their bipartisan allies who continue to fight for rural families and American drivers. The clock is ticking, but we have outstanding champions in Congress working to ensure that working families don’t lose access to their favorite lower-carbon, lower-cost option on June 1,” said Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy.