API urges Congress to amend EPA 2017 biofuel proposal
API Downstream Group Director Frank Macchiarola and partners urged Congress on Monday to amend the Environment Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2017 biofuel proposal regarding Renewable Fuel Standards (RFS) that may harm both consumers and industry.
“Instead of providing relief to consumers, EPA’s biofuel proposal for 2017 moves us closer to breaching the blend wall,” Macchiarola said. “The broken RFS mandate has earned opposition from the Environmental Working Group, anti-hunger group ActionAid, livestock producers, owners of restaurants and convenience stores, as well as members of Congress from both sides of the aisle. Grassroots advocates submitted more than 513,000 comments to EPA in opposition to the 2017 RFS proposal. Any policy that attracts such widespread criticism deserves action, and API is calling on Congress to pass bipartisan legislation to fix this broken RFS policy.”
Macchiarola joined representatives from the National Marine Manufacturers Association and the American Motorcyclist Association on a conference call to discuss the potential impact of the new RFS on motorcyclists, drivers and boaters.
The leaders said that the RFS proposal could potentially breach the blend wall of E10 gasoline and become unsafe for use in motors unequipped to handle high percentages of ethanol. It also does not allow market flexibility for consumers willing to pay for ethanol-free gas and might increase fuel prices at the pump, Macchiarola warned.
Macchiarola urged Congress to pass bipartisan legislation to correct the new RFS proposal to protect consumers.
