Rep. Angie Craig Leads Bipartisan Bill to Make Year-Round E15 Permanent, Lower Prices at the Gas Pump
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig introduced bipartisan legislation to make year-round access to E15 permanent nationwide – expanding market access for Minnesota farmers and lowering costs for drivers at the gas pump.
The bipartisan Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act is the latest step in Rep. Craig’s efforts to increase investment in domestic biofuels production.
“Investing in domestic biofuels is a critical piece of the puzzle when it comes to lowering costs, and expanding opportunities for Minnesota producers,” said Rep. Craig. “My commonsense bipartisan bill to make E-15 available year-round will move us toward the all-of-the-above energy policy we need, while helping us combat the climate crisis – and I’ll be working to get it signed into law.”
Rep. Craig introduced the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act alongside her bipartisan colleagues U.S. Reps. Adrian Smith (R-NE), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Sharice Davids (D-KS) and Mariannette Miller Meeks (R-IA). U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.
The Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act has broad support from stakeholders.
"We applaud Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Representatives Adrian Smith (R-Neb.) and Angie Craig (D-Minn.) for leading the charge once again to unlock permanent, nationwide access to E15. Rural families and American consumers are lucky to have them in our corner, and we hope this is the bill that finally makes it over the finish line. The American people have waited for too long to get reliable access to a fuel that can lower costs while creating jobs in rural communities. We look forward to continuing our work with our champions in Congress and the White House to finally make year-round E15 the law of the land," said John Fuher, Vice President of Government Affairs, Growth Energy.
“This bipartisan legislation would finally bring nationwide consistency and stability to the marketplace and eliminate the need for last-minute emergency waivers. With the summer driving season just around the corner, we urge lawmakers to swiftly adopt this bill and deliver a win for American families seeking cleaner, lower-cost fuel options. Time is of the essence,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “Ethanol producers, oil refiners, fuel retailers, equipment manufacturers, farmers, and consumers have all rallied behind this commonsense approach. We thank Representatives Adrian Smith and Angie Craig for their continued leadership on this important issue. RFA commends them and their fellow renewable fuel supporters in the House for continuing to fight for fair market access for our nation’s farmers, ethanol producers, and consumers.”
"Year-round, nationwide E15 sales will prevent a confusing patchwork of state regulations and give consumers reliable access to the fuels they use every day. We thank Representatives Smith and Craig, as well as Senators Fischer and Duckworth, for championing this important bipartisan effort. Now, Congress must act to bring certainty and consistency to the fuel marketplace," said Kristin Whitman, SVP Government Relations, American Petroleum Institute.
"To effectively serve their customers, convenience retailers need a stable and predictable year-round market for fuels like E15," said National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) General Counsel Doug Kantor. "We are grateful to Rep. Smith and Rep. Craig for their continued leadership on this issue, with legislation that will improve the environmental attributes of summer gasoline while lowering costs for families and small businesses across the country."
“E-15 is a win for both farmers and consumers, offering a vital opportunity to lower fuel prices and provide more choices at the pump,” said NFU President Rob Larew. “This legislation supports family farmers by creating stronger, more reliable markets while helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions. With this bill, we’re taking critical steps toward a more sustainable future, and we urge lawmakers to act quickly to ensure farmers and consumers benefit from these opportunities.”
In Congress, Rep. Craig has worked across the aisle for years to promote homegrown biofuels. Just last month, in a bipartisan letter to newly confirmed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin, Rep. Craig urged the Agency to prioritize biofuels as part of the Administration’s energy agenda.
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