Davis, House Biofuels Caucus Announces Two New Bills to Grow Biofuels Markets

Press Release

Last week, U.S. Representative Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) and the co-chairs of the House Biofuels Caucus introduced two new pieces of legislation to increase access to biofuels and to fully recognize the environmental benefits. Rep. Davis and Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) led introduction of the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Investment and Market Expansion Act, which would expand access to higher blends of biofuels. Rep. Dusty Johnson (SD-AL) was the lead sponsor of the Adopt GREET Act, which will direct the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to update its greenhouse gas modeling for ethanol and biodiesel.

"I am proud to introduce the Renewable Fuel Infrastructure Investment and Market Expansion Act with Rep. Cindy Axne and my fellow Biofuels Caucus Co-chairs," said Rep. Davis. "This bill builds off the highly successful USDA Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program, which I have been proud to support due to its positive impact in expanding biofuel infrastructure for consumers in Illinois. And Rep. Johnson's Adopt GREET Act will ensure federal regulators at the EPA take into account how biofuels lower greenhouse gas emissions. Our bipartisan legislation will provide much-needed support to the biofuels industry."

"One of the largest barriers to increased use of higher blends of biofuels is the lack of infrastructure and availability for consumers," said Rep. Axne. "My bipartisan legislation will provide consistent federal investment for biofuels infrastructure and will remove barriers for E15. I'm also proud to support Rep. Johnson's legislation to ensure the EPA is using the most up-to-date modeling to accurately reflect the greenhouse gas reduction provided by renewable fuels. These bipartisan bills will result in improved access to clean, affordable, and homegrown fuel."

"Consumers want access to higher, cleaner blends of biofuels at the pump but accessibility continues to be an issue," said Rep. Johnson. "I'm proud to lead efforts with Rep. Axne and the Biofuels Caucus today to make this access a reality. The Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Investment and Market Expansion Act and the GREET Act will move our nation towards cleaner and more affordable fuel."

The Renewable Fuel Infrastructure Investment and Market Expansion Act would authorize $500 million over 5 years for infrastructure grants for fuel retailers and direct the EPA Administrator to finalize a proposed rule to repeal E15 labeling requirements warning drivers about E15's potential impact on cars, which may confuse and deter drivers from using E15, a blend of gasoline with 15 percent ethanol. The bill would also direct the EPA Administrator to finalize provisions from the same proposed rule to allow certain existing Underground Storage Tanks (UST) to store higher blends of ethanol.

The Adopt GREET Act would require the EPA to update its greenhouse gas modeling for ethanol and biodiesel by requiring the EPA to adopt the Argonne National Lab's Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation (GREET) Model for both fuels. EPA would then be required to update its modeling every five years or report to Congress to affirm its modeling is current or otherwise explain why no updates were made.

Both pieces of legislation are supported by the National Corn Growers Association, the Renewable Fuels Association, the American Coalition for Ethanol, Growth Energy, and POET.

"ACE thanks Representatives Davis and Axne, along with the Co-Chairs of the House Biofuels Caucus, for this demonstration of bipartisan leadership, which is necessary to ensure biofuels play a leading role in helping the U.S. achieve net-zero emissions by midcentury," said Brian Jennings, American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO. "While electric vehicles (EVs) continue to dominate the headlines, experts conclude EVs alone will fail to reach President Biden's goal of net-zero emissions in the U.S. by 2050, and that increased use of biofuels will be required to help address the emissions gap. A recent study by Harvard validates what ACE has been saying for years; today's corn ethanol is nearly 50 percent cleaner than gasoline. This vital legislation with both bicameral and bipartisan backing would ensure infrastructure parity for biofuels and EVs and help ethanol continue to be part of the solution to climate change."

"Both the Adopt GREET Act and the Renewable Fuel Infrastructure Investment and Market Expansion Act encourage nationwide use of biofuels like ethanol and promote their proven environmental benefits as Congress and the Administration find ways to immediately decarbonize the transportation sector," said Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy. "The bicameral and bipartisan support of each bill underscores the shared sentiment that biofuels' role in reducing carbon emissions remains critical to some of today's climate change challenges."
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