Biofuel & Ethanol

Chet Thompson, President and CEO of the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM), issued the following statement on the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed rule regarding modifying the interpretation of Clean Air Act Section 211(h)(4) to extend the E10 volatility waiver to E15, on which AFPM today submitted comments.

Congress established the mandate for cellulosic biofuel under the RFS in 2007. The basic idea was that requiring ambitious volumes of cellulosic fuel to be incorporated into the fuel supply would create and simultaneously mature the market for cellulosic ethanol and biofuels, but that’s not what happened.

A diversity of consumer groups, environmental organizations, food producers and engine manufacturers joined AFPM in voicing their opposition to the unsustainable ethanol mandates released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for 2019.

The Wall Street Journal editorial board is questioning the legality and rationality of President Trump’s recent order to have the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) change long-standing Clean Air Act rules to accommodate the year-round sale of E15 fuel (gasoline blended to contain 15-percent ethanol).

During a recent visit to Iowa — smack in the middle of corn country — the President announced a policy change that would direct the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to waive Clean Air Act rules and permit the year-round sale of E15 (gasoline with 15-percent ethanol).

Twenty senators delivered a letter to President Trump yesterday firmly stating their opposition to rumored regulatory action to expand the sale of E15 fuel.

As biofuel producers know very well, ethanol is a highly valued octane booster that can depend on market demand, not mandated consumption, for its competitive edge.

There is a fundamental flaw in the system designed to ensure compliance with the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS): The assumption that refiners would not blend ethanol into their fuel were it not for the policy and its threat of crippling costs being imposed on obligated parties who do not blend.

Since the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) was enacted, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has had the difficult responsibility of implementing a broken and unworkable biofuel blending program.