Sen. Chuck Grassley says there is support in Washington, D.C., to make year-round nationwide E15 available for Americans, but it could be months before the Senate would take up federal legislation addressing the matter. According to Grassley, the first two months of the 119th Congress have been tied up with vetting and approving President Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks, so he doesn’t expect to see action anytime soon.
Iowa’s congressional delegation is continuing its push at the capitol to advance E15 availability. Grassley, District 4 Rep. Randy Feenstra, and Sen. Joni Ernst are joining a bipartisan group of legislators from agricultural states in support of the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailers Choice Act. That legislation will remove the limitations on E15 sales during the summer months. Grassley says they will also have to contend with resistance from the oil industry.
In recent years, summertime E15 sales have been permitted in those eight states due to the executive actions from the last two administrations. However, Grassley says the ethanol industry can’t be left to the whims of whoever sits in the Oval Office.
The continuing resolution to fund the federal government, which was approved in December, is set to expire next month, and industry representatives are optimistic the year-round nationwide E15 legislation could be included in the next budget vote.
