Letter from D.Feinstein / CA

Just got this in my email folder:

Thank you for writing me to express your concerns about gasoline that contains 15 percent ethanol. Your correspondence is important to me, and I welcome the opportunity to respond.

I recognize you are concerned that gasoline with greater volumes of ethanol may be harmful to certain vehicles. I believe that our country should avoid policies that will create undue burden on consumers as Congress seeks to invest in renewable and low-carbon energy alternatives.

On November 29, 2013, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its annual standards for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program for 2014. The EPA found that although the production of renewable fuels has been increasing, overall U.S. gasoline consumption is lower than anticipated. Based on this conclusion, the EPA has proposed to reduce the standards for advanced biofuel and total renewable fuel. I understand that you support this rule change, and I will keep your thoughts in mind as the EPA moves forward.

The EPA has also granted two partial waivers, which allow gasoline with up to 15 percent volume ethanol (E15) to be sold for light duty automobiles with a model year of 2001 or newer in some parts of the United States. The EPA recently required that all stations selling E15 (of which there are less than 100 nationwide) must also provide at least one prominently labeled fuel pump with a hose and nozzle that only dispenses gasoline with 10 percent ethanol or less.

It is important to note that the partial waivers do not permit the sale of E15 in California, where California Air Resources Board regulations cap ethanol at ten percent of gasoline. Furthermore, while E15 will be available for approved model year cars and SUVs outside of California, gasoline stations will not be required to sell, nor will consumers be required to purchase, E15 gasoline.

In addition, you may be pleased to know that I have introduced the "Corn Ethanol Mandate Elimination Act" (S. 1807) in order to remove any federal requirement to blend corn ethanol into gasoline. I believe the multi-billion dollar corn ethanol industry is capable of competing head to head with oil without a Federal mandate. For your information, I have attached a copy of my Senate floor statement explaining this legislation