Senators, RFA “frustrated” over E15; RFA remains upbeat on ethanol tax credit

Biofuels Digest
August 05, 2010 Jim Lane

In Washington, Renewable Fuels Association CEO Bob Dinneen told The Ethanol Report that he remains a believer on the chances for an extension of the ethanol tax credit, but was “very frustrated” by delays at EPA over the approval of E12 or E15 ethanol blends, and described the EPA as “one of the most dysfunctional agencies in the federal government.”

Meanwhile, a bipartisan group of senators, led by Tom Harkin of Iowa, met with EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and Department of Energy Deputy Secretary Daniel Poneman to discuss delays in the approval of E15 ethanol blend for vehicles. Harkin said, ““I was very clear at the meeting that I am frustrated that the testing is not complete on E15 and that the timeline has been extended twice. This process seems so much more difficult that it was when E10 was approved. While I had hoped that E15 would be available by now to consumers, Secretary Jackson and Deputy Secretary Poneman were very helpful in fully explaining the rationale for the protracted timeline, and I am looking forward to hearing EPA’s decision on E15 soon.”

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