Lawmakers will try again this week to mend the political divide that’s blocking permanent year-round sales of high-ethanol fuel.
The House is scheduled to take up legislation — H.R. 1346 from Rep. Adrian Smith (R-Neb.) and 55 co-sponsors — that would lift seasonal restrictions on the sale of E15. That’s a 15-percent ethanol blend that can’t be sold in much of the country in summer without emergency waivers from EPA.
In return for expanding the corn-based fuel, congressional negotiators included provisions meant to help small refineries manage the costs of compliance with biofuel-blending mandates, but the refining companies have scoffed at the proposal as insufficient.
Environmental groups are gearing up against the legislation as well, sending a letter to Congress last week outlining an array of objections.
