Brown, Bipartisan Colleagues Urge Biden To Use American-Grown Ethanol (E15), Restore American Energy Independence

Letter Urges Biden to Prioritize E15 Fuel, Use American Agriculture as an Energy Solution

WASHINGTON, D.C. – March 11, 2022 – U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, joined Senators John Thune (R-SD), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and a bipartisan group of senators, in sending a letter to President Biden urging him to permit the year-round sale of E15 fuel in order to reduce the United States’ reliance on foreign sources of energy. The senators note that American biofuels are a clean and reliable energy solution that will help drive down fuel costs for consumers who are facing record-high prices at the pump.
“As the United States joins global partners in seeking to hold accountable and isolate the Russian Federation for its unprovoked assault on Ukraine, we must deny Russia’s economic lifeblood of energy dominance,” the senators wrote. “This will require tapping every accessible contribution of American energy technology. As you know, American biofuels are one such readily available energy solution that offer consumers affordable and cleaner options at the pump.” 
This letter was also signed by U.S. Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Ben Sasse (R-NE), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).
The full letter can be found here or below.
Dear President Biden:
We write to request your urgent consideration of a no-cost, immediate step your administration can take to help curb rising domestic energy costs and displace banned Russian oil imports. Specifically, we request that you utilize any administrative authority to permit the sale of E15 fuel over the 2022 summer driving season, extending the Reid vapor pressure (RVP) waiver from June 1 through September 15.
As the United States joins global partners in seeking to hold accountable and isolate the Russian Federation for its unprovoked assault on Ukraine, we must deny Russia’s economic lifeblood of energy dominance. This will require tapping every accessible contribution of American energy technology. As you know, American biofuels are one such readily available energy solution that offer consumers affordable and cleaner options at the pump. Wholesale ethanol has recently traded for approximately $1.20 cheaper than gasoline per gallon, a discount that is passed on to consumers and amplified in higher blends like E15, E30, and E85.
Additionally, higher blends of biofuels, as well as biodiesel, renewable diesel, and sustainable aviation fuel, displace a greater share of imported oil each time they are chosen by consumers. Preserving the option for American drivers to select E15 throughout the busy summer driving season will benefit our families and businesses while blunting a vital source of funding for Vladimir Putin’s campaign of destruction. Additionally, committing to this policy now will send an important signal of certainty and stability to fuel retailers currently or considering selling E15 in the year ahead.
We know this is but one energy solution at your disposal that can contribute to our nation’s broader response to Russia’s malign aggressions, but it is a foundational way to leverage the strength of American agriculture to provide energy security for consumers and show that the United States is committed to lessening our dangerous dependence on foreign sources of energy.
Thank you for your swift consideration of this request.
Sincerely,