Lawmakers will try again this week to break a stalemate over putting more ethanol in Americans’ gas tanks.
Negotiations on the issue — which would lift seasonal restrictions on the sale of 15 percent ethanol fuel, in exchange for concessions to petroleum refiners — have stretched past a self-imposed congressional deadline and risk breaking a promise to have legislation proposed by Wednesday.
Industry groups say the solutions being considered by a House Republican rural energy council focus on limiting the economic hardship exemptions certain refineries can obtain from biofuel-blending mandates in the renewable fuel standard — as important a goal for refiners as expanded E15 sales are for biofuel and farm organizations.
House Republican leaders had said they expected the council to make recommendations by Feb. 15 and to have legislation proposed 10 days later. A spokesperson for House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) didn’t immediately return a message Sunday seeking an update.
