Cramer Statement on President Trump's E-15 Decision

Statement

Congressman Kevin Cramer released the following statement after President Trump announced his rulemaking decision on ethanol blends up to 15 percent:

I welcome President Trump's announcement directing the EPA to provide a Reid vapor pressure waiver for ethanol blends up to 15 percent to be sold year round, allowing additional ethanol consumption if the consumer demands it. This is good news for North Dakota's corn and ethanol producers. I have always been an advocate for reducing regulation that prohibits market demand if there's no sound basis for doing so. I'm also pleased to see the President call for greater transparency improvements to the RFS credit market, building off the improvements acting Administrator Wheeler announced last month to help prevent market manipulation. I look forward to reviewing the proposed rules from the administration and working with North Dakota stakeholders throughout this process to get the best outcome possible for our producers, industry and consumers.

Cramer has been a longtime supporter of the action taken by the President, including an original co-sponsor of H.R. 1311, the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, which would extend the Reid vapor pressure waiver for gasoline blended with more than 10 percent ethanol. The maximum allowable Reid vapor pressure regulation for summertime gasoline blends set by the EPA is established to reduce emissions of pollutants that form ground level ozone. Research has shown, from a vapor pressure perspective, there is no reason to treat higher blends of ethanol differently from E10.

The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), which requires minimum volumes of renewable fuel in U.S. transportation fuel, is monitored for compliance using tradable credits called renewable identification numbers (RINs). President Trump has called for limiting RIN purchases only to those required to comply with the RFS, refiners and importers, otherwise known as obligated parties. He also called for public disclosure of certain large holders of RINs and limiting the length of time a non-obligated party can hold RINs, among other reforms for consideration. Last month, the EPA released new public information and committed to greater transparency of the RFS program.

Cramer is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on the Environment which has jurisdiction over the Clean Air Act and the RFS. He was also selected to serve on a bipartisan RFS working group with five other members of the Committee.

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