Twenty U.S. Senators are calling on the Biden administration to allow nationwide E15 sales this summer.
Twelve Republicans were joined by eight Democrats in a letter to President Biden underscoring the geopolitical importance of uninterrupted biofuel access and noted that the president directed the Environmental Protection Agency to issue summertime waivers in 2022 and 2023.
“Enabling the year-round sale of E15 helped allow our energy supply chain to ‘address extreme and unusual fuel supply circumstances caused by the war in Ukraine that are affecting all regions of the nation.’ Unfortunately, this underlying justification remains applicable as Russia’s war of aggression continues to weigh on global energy and security. Further, Iran-backed aggression in the Middle East, specifically Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, presents new threats to global energy markets and our energy security,” the senators wrote.
“To counter these influences, we must pursue an all-of-the-above energy strategy, which includes leveraging domestic biofuels. As your previous temporary waivers have proven, permitting the sale of higher blends of biofuels like E15 through the summer driving season bolsters the domestic fuel supply, lowers consumer costs, and promotes the environmental benefits of American biofuels and modern agriculture,” they continued.
The bipartisan effort is backed by the National Corn Growers Association, Growth Energy, and the Renewable Fuels Association.
The list of U.S. Senators who signed the letter include Chuck Grassley (R-IA), John Thune (R-SD), Dick Durbin (D-IL) Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and J.D. Vance (R-Ohio).
Click HERE to read the letter.