Republican Party Congressman introduces two bills aimed at reforming Renewable Fuel Standard

Republican Party Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner has introduced two bills aimed at reforming the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and the national biofuels mandate.

The bills call for the additional study and evaluation of the ethanol mandate . According to Sensenbrenner, this is to ensure that the Environmental Protection Agency’s “volume obligations are based in reality”.

The first bill, the comprehensive mid-level ethanol assessment legislation, requires the National Academy of Sciences to provide a comprehensive assessment of research on the implications of the use of mid-level ethanol blends – fuel containing more than 10% ethanol by volume –  compared to gasoline blends containing 10% or zero percent ethanol.

The study will evaluate the performance, safety, and environmental impact of mid-level ethanol blended fuels.
 
The second bill focuses on cellulosic biofuel assessment. This legislation relaxes the Environmental Protection Agency’s volume requirements for cellulosic biofuel under the RFS to what is commercially available until the National Academy of Sciences submits to Congress a report on the environmental and economic impacts of cellulosic biofuel, and the feasibility of large scale commercial production.

In a statement, Sensenbrenner, said: “These common sense bills ensure that hardworking American fuel consumers are not needlessly subjected to ineffectual and burdensome government regulations.”

Separately, he added:  “As a former member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, I have always believed science-based decision making must guide our assessment of the RFS and the effects this policy has had on consumers, our economy, and our environment.

“This is especially true in a state like Wisconsin, where the use of recreational vehicles and marine engines is a way of life for many of its residents.”