On Wednesday, a subcommittee was held on Senate Study Bill 3084 which is the governor’s biofuel bill proposal. If passed and signed into law, this piece of legislation would create an E15 access standard, which requires gas stations to sell E15 at more of their pumps. E15 is gasoline that contains 15 percent ethanol. It is cheaper per gallon than typical unleaded blends and works in most 2001-to-present vehicles. Under the proposed bill, all retailers with compatible infrastructure must offer E15 by January 1 of 2026. New fuel retailers that open on or after January 1 of 2023 must offer E15 from 50 percent of their dispensers.
This particular version of the bill offers waivers from the E15 standard for certain circumstances. The governor can waive the E15 access standard statewide or on a regional basis if there is an E15 supply shortage, if the price of E15 will create a demonstrated economic hardship, or if widespread infrastructure compatibility issues are present. In addition, there are two waivers obtainable for individual retailers. One can be due to incompatible infrastructure due to the age of the infrastructure. Retailers can also get a waiver if the overall cost to upgrade the infrastructure exceeds roughly $71,000. Retailers are eligible for 70 percent of costs from the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (RFIP), up to $50,000. Tax credits available to retailers will also be extended and created for ethanol and biodiesel blends.
This bill will next be considered by the full Agriculture Committee. I am a member of the Agriculture Committee, and I look forward to a discussion on this important piece of legislation. I also encourage input from my constituents and the stakeholder organizations involved in this proposal.
Stop the mandates!!! I say that as a corn-growing farmer.
Government regulations and overreach always make things worse. It is not the function of the government to mandate what you bye or have available to purchase! A gallon of ethanol contains 76,330 BTUs per gallon. A gallon of gasoline contains 120,286 BTU per gallon. There is 5.8% lower value in buying a gallon of 15% ethanol in your gallon of gasoline. You should legislate that prices should reflect the value and not demand availability. Consumers will vote with her dollars.