Johnson, Smith offer bipartisan bill to ensure year-round sale of 15E nationwide

U.S. Reps. Adrian Smith (R-NE) and Dusty Johnson (R-SD), two of the co-chairs for the Congressional Biofuels Caucus, unveiled a bipartisan bill that would extend the Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) volatility waiver to enable the year-round, nationwide sale of ethanol blends up to 15 percent.

“Since I first introduced similar legislation, I have been pushing the EPA to allow the uninterrupted sale of E15,” said Rep. Smith, who on Sept. 27 sponsored the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2024, H.R. 9885. “Flexibility and greater consumer choice strengthens the U.S. fuel market, and Nebraska’s farmers have the capacity to meet demand.”

If enacted, H.R. 9885 would amend the Clean Air Act with respect to the ethanol waiver for RVP, according to the bill’s text.

“Securing year-round availability of E15 would provide certainty to the fuel sector, improve the production and supply of American-made fuel, and help drive down the prices at the pump,” said Rep. Johnson, one of 34 original cosponsors of H.R. 9885. “I am proud to help lead this effort and will continue working to get year-round E15 signed into law.”

Among the other original cosponsors of H.R. 9885 are U.S. Reps. Darin LaHood (R-IL), Sam Graves (R-MO), Ashley Hinson (R-IA), Randy Feenstra (R-IA), Ron Estes (R-KS), Mike Carey (R-OH), Ann Wagner (R-MO), Mike Bost (R-IL), Don Bacon (R-NE), Buddy Carter (R-GA), and Angie Craig (D-MI).

“At a time when agricultural producers are struggling, uncertainty in the energy market is looming, and consumers are paying more at the pumps, the United States cannot afford to leave any opportunity to boost energy production on the table,” Rep. Smith said, thanking his House colleagues “for their cooperation to unlock this sustainable fuel source and provide relief for hard-working Americans at the fuel pump.”

The Renewable Fuels Association and Growth Energy endorsed the measure, which has been referred for consideration to the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee.