Lawmakers in both the House and Senate introduced legislation to give EPA the authority to authorize sales of E15 all year, seeking to address a court decision which invalidated EPA's regulatory action to make such sales possible.
Lawmakers are seeking to build bipartisan support for the bills, and some expect it could be melded into other legislation such as infrastructure.
Reps. Angie Craig, D., Minn., and Adrian Smith, R., Neb., introduced the Year-Round Fuel Choice Act (HR 4410), and Sens. Deb Fischer, R., Neb., and Amy Klobuchar, D., Minn., have dropped in the Consumer and Fuel Retailers Choice Act.
The House bill currently has 22 co-sponsors, while the Senate measure has at least 10.
The bills would clarify EPA's authority to grant a 1-psi Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) waivers for E15 and higher ethanol blends, permitting sales of the fuels during the summer driving months from May 1 to September 15.