Republican lawmakers in the United States are planning to set up a task force to examine the feasibility of allowing year-round sales of higher-ethanol E15 gasoline blends, after efforts to include the measure in a funding bill earlier this week failed, reported Reuters.
The decision drew sharp criticism from farm groups and ethanol advocates in the Midwest, who said forming a task force instead of passing legislation is a setback for U.S. farmers already facing low commodity prices, uncertain global trade conditions and ongoing ambiguity surrounding biofuels policy.
Agricultural groups have long pushed for year-round availability of E15, which contains more ethanol than the E10 blend currently sold at most fuel stations. Expanded E15 sales would increase demand for corn, the primary feedstock for ethanol. However, oil refiners have historically opposed higher biofuel blending requirements, citing increased compliance costs, as per the news report.
At present, E15 sales are restricted during the summer months because of air-quality regulations.
Under the proposed compromise, a body known as the тАЬE-15 Rural Domestic Energy CouncilтАЭ would be created to study issues including E15 sales, U.S. refining capacity and biofuel blending credits, and to make legislative recommendations by mid-February, according to a draft provision reviewed by Reuters.
