Ethanol allies reintroduce bill to boost biofuel use

Source: By Marc Heller, E&E News • Posted: Tuesday, March 28, 2023

The legislation seeks to promote blending more ethanol into gasoline.

Chuck Grassley speaking with reporters in the U.S. Capitol.

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa).Francis Chung/POLITICO

Senate biofuel backers are taking another try at legislation to boost ethanol use by setting higher octane levels for gasoline.

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) led the reintroduction of the “Next Generation Fuels Act,” which would set a minimum research octane number of 98, or a bit higher than the current octane level of 91 typically seen at gas stations.

The bill would require that the higher level also reduce carbon emissions by 40 percent, a condition sponsors said can be met by blending more ethanol into the fuel.

“Instead of continuing to buy more oil from foreign adversaries, we should be increasing the use of ethanol made by biofuel producers right here in the United States,” Grassley said in a statement. “The Next Generation Fuels Act would help put America back on the path to energy independence while easing the pain at the pump.”

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