Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, joined Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) in reintroducing the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2023. The legislation would permit the year-round, nationwide sale of ethanol blends higher than 10%, ending years of regulatory uncertainty and preventing a patchwork of uneven state regulations.
“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.
“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.
Earlier this month, Senator Cramer and a bipartisan group of colleagues sent President Biden a letter emphasizing the year-round sale of E15 would help lower costs for consumers and increase opportunities for corn and ethanol producers.
Joining Senators Fischer and Klobuchar on the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2023 are Senators John Thune (R-SD), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and John Hoeven (R-ND).
The bill has garnered support from stakeholders including the National Corn Growers Association, Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy, and the American Petroleum Institute. Additional endorsements are as follows:
- National Farmers Union
- America Farm Bureau Federation
- National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
- American Coalition for Ethanol
- SIGMA
- National Association of Truck Stop Operators
- National Association of Convenience Stores
Click here for bill text.