Baldwin Joins Colleagues, Urges President Biden to Prioritize E15 Fuel and Utilize American Agriculture

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joined a bipartisan group of colleagues in sending a letter urging President Biden to permit the year-round sale of E15 fuel in 2023 in order to reduce the United States’ reliance on foreign sources of energy and utilize American agriculture as an energy solution. The senators note that American biofuels are a clean and reliable energy solution that will help drive down fuel costs for consumers.

“Taking early action on E15 will send timely and necessary signals across the energy supply chain so that fuel producers and retailers will have the certainty they need to ensure affordable, reliable, and cleaner fuel options for American consumers throughout the year,” the senators wrote. “Further, U.S. use of E15 will continue to displace Russian oil and finished gasoline products, ease domestic and global supply constraints, and lower net domestic fuel prices.”

“Preventing a disruption in consumer access to E15 through the summer of 2023 remains a straightforward, no-cost solution at your disposal to recommit our nation’s broader response to the effect of Russia’s actions and the war’s collateral effect on fuel markets while advancing our domestic energy and environmental needs,” the senators continued.

In addition to Senator Baldwin, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators John Thune (R-SD), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).

A full version of the letter is available here and below.

Dear President Biden:

We write to request you again direct the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to use existing authority to prevent the disruption of sales of E15 fuel during the 2023 summer driving season by extending the Reid vapor pressure (RVP) allowance from June 1 through September 15.

As you know, enabling full market access for E15 increases the energy security, environmental, and economic benefits of the domestic fuel supply and is a sound component of an all-of-the-above energy strategy. Unfortunately, an underlying justification for your emergency action last summer, the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, appears likely to continue causing global energy and security issues into this year. Taking early action on E15 will send timely and necessary signals across the energy supply chain so that fuel producers and retailers will have the certainty they need to ensure affordable, reliable, and cleaner fuel options for American consumers throughout the year. Further, U.S. use of E15 will continue to displace Russian oil and finished gasoline products, ease domestic and global supply constraints, and lower net domestic fuel prices.

States hold authority under the Clean Air Act (CAA) to request that EPA permit them to effectively require lower volatility fuel in their states during the summer months by eliminating the RVP allowance for standard E10 blends. Numerous states have sought to use this option to enable consumers in their states to permanently access a more affordable and cleaner fuel amidst elevated energy costs. While the regulatory process to implement their request is ongoing, retailers and consumers alike need to know that they can access E15 this summer. Uniformity across the nation's fuel supply chain, resulting from your administration acting again, would provide consumer benefits and regulatory certainty nationwide.

This is why biofuel, oil and gas, agriculture, fuel retailer, and transportation stakeholders have come to Congress in support of a permanent legislative solution that will finally remove outdated and unnecessary barriers to full market access for E15 while respecting states’ authority under the CAA. This bill, the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, has growing bipartisan, bicameral support. As Congress works to advance this permanent solution, we urge you to again take executive action to ensure consumers can continue to access E15, as they have for four years now, while supporting ongoing legislative efforts.

When industry stakeholders have certainty that the infrastructure investments they make, some of which have been supported by tens of millions of federal dollars in cost-sharing agreements, they have the confidence to offer consumers E15 without the risk and expense of switching out fuels for no reason. Now, over 2,900 retail locations offer E15 nationwide, providing consumers a cleaner fuel that sold for as much as 96 cents less per gallon than conventional gasoline blends last summer, with an average nationwide discount of 16 cents per gallon between May and August of 2022. As a result of your timely action last summer, the nation’s fuel supply was increased at a critical time and American consumers saved $57 million. Going forward, net consumer savings from E15 could exceed $20 billion annually while also reducing carbon emissions by 17.62 million tons, the equivalent of taking 3.8 million cars off the road each year.

Preventing a disruption in consumer access to E15 through the summer of 2023 remains a straightforward, no-cost solution at your disposal to recommit our nation’s broader response to the effect of Russia’s actions and the war’s collateral effect on fuel markets while advancing our domestic energy and environmental needs.

Thank you for your swift consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

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