Ethanol Blog

LINCOLN, Neb. (DTN) -- With the E15 Rural Domestic Energy Council set to begin work, agriculture, biofuels and petroleum organizations are pushing for the council to quickly reach a legislative solution to make E15 available nationally on a permanent basis.

In a letter to council co-chairmen Reps. Stephanie Bice, R-Okla., and Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, on Friday, the groups said they "stand ready to partner" with the council to "expeditiously" craft legislation for E15.

The groups signing the letter include the Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy, National Corn Growers Association, National Sorghum Producers, Corn Refiners Association, American Farm Bureau Federation, Agricultural Retailers Association, American Petroleum Institute, National Association of Convenience Stores, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, NATSO: Representing American's Travel Centers and Truck Stops, and SIGMA: America's Leading Fuel Marketers.

"We previously supported consensus legislation in H.R. 1346, the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, that was offered for consideration by Rep. Adrian Smith (R-Nebraska) last week before the rules committee," the letter said.

"This legislation, as amended, should significantly inform the council's work and provides the best starting point for any further deliberations. Second, the time window for arriving at a recommended legislative solution is short, with the council expected to submit a legislative solution to the full House by Feb. 15, only 16 days from today."

An expedited process, the letter said, is needed as farmers are making planting decisions, and that a "legislative fix is needed as soon as possible to provide fuel producers and retailers with a predictable policy framework as we approach the summer driving season."

The groups said a lack of action could "disrupt the fuel supply chain, negatively impacting the availability of fuel."

In addition, groups said the need to identify and encourage new domestic markets for American agriculture is "critical as risk" of bankruptcy for American farmers is the highest it's been in nearly 50 years.

"To achieve a solution in short order, we hope you will take our proposals under consideration and build upon H.R. 1346 through the framework of the council," the letter said.

"With a limited timeline of less than three weeks, we would recommend keeping a narrow scope related to the production and sale of E15 by building off the work of H.R. 1346. Limiting the scope of the council's work to the extent of the issues in this proposal helps to provide the council with the ability to meet this expedited deadline. If this council delves into other issues, it will put at risk the timeline to complete action on this important priority."

In addition, the groups are calling for the council to "prioritize transparency" and to solicit feedback from stakeholders in the agriculture, biofuels, refinery, and fuel retail sectors.

"Finally, we must remind the council that the legislative proposal offered last week by Rep. Adrian Smith during the Rules Committee meeting on H.R. 1346 has broad support from the overwhelming majority of biofuels, agriculture, fuel retail, and oil refining interests, and is the most comprehensive pathway to a legislative solution," the letter said.

Read more on DTN:

"Corn Farmers, Biofuel Groups Furious," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

Todd Neeley can be reached at todd.neeley@dtn.com

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