Congress’s Attempts to Address Biofuels

Under a deal reached in January, the House Rural Domestic Energy Council has until February 25 to introduce and bring to the floor a bill aimed at expanding the sales of E15, an ethanol-based biofuel. The Council’s Co-Chairs have circulated a discussion draft and plan to release a formal proposal by Wednesday. Mid-size oil refiners are advocating for the inclusion of language that would broaden the number of refiners eligible for exemptions to renewable fuel standards. This provision would benefit the oil industry by limiting the market for higher ethanol blends.