Apr 28, 2020
Today, Congresswoman Angie Craig (MN-02) announced the introduction of the Clean Fuels Deployment Act of 2020. The bipartisan legislation she introduced with U.S. Reps. Abby Finkenauer (D-IA), Don Bacon (R-NE), and Roger Marshall (R-KS), would provide funding for installing and converting fuel pump infrastructure to deliver higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel.
The bill authorizes $500 million over five years to help retailers offer higher ethanol blends, expand the geographic area selling ethanol blends, support biodiesel, bioheat, and sustainable aviation fuel markets, and accelerate the deployment of fueling infrastructure. Given recent uncertainties in the renewable fuels industry, it is more important than ever to fund infrastructure improvements and remove market barriers to accessing clean and renewable fuels.
“The Clean Fuels Deployment Act is a critical step toward supporting biofuels at a particularly difficult time. As a member of the Congressional Biofuels Caucus, I’ve long supported the year-round sale of E15 and increasing options for consumers at the pump,” said Rep. Angie Craig. “This commonsense solution would provide additional certainty to Minnesota family farmers. I look forward to following through on much needed relief to our producers across the country.”
"The time is now to further diversify our fuel supply and move more biofuels into the market,"Finkenauer said. "Biofuels offer a proven path to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, decarbonizing the transportation sector, driving economic growth and creating jobs. I'm grateful to have bipartisan support from Representatives Bacon, Craig and Marshall. Cleaner fuels are good for our economy and our environment, and we’re going to keep fighting for them.”
In addition to supporting the distribution of higher ethanol and biodiesel blends at fueling stations, the program could also be used to enhance pipelines and terminals to blend and carry ethanol and biodiesel. Funding from the clean fuels grant program could be used to incentivize the deployment of ethanol and biodiesel fueling infrastructure and convert existing infrastructure to deliver ethanol blends greater than 10 percent and biodiesel blends greater than 20 percent.
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