Clean Air Act gutted for ethanol and refinery profits
S. 593 — Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025 · Filed by Deb Fischer (R-NE) · 22 cosponsors · Introduced Feb 13, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill amends the Clean Air Act to relax fuel-blending rules for ethanol and gasoline, allowing higher ethanol blends (10–15%) to be sold year-round in more states by loosening Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) standards. It also returns or credits renewable-fuel compliance credits to small refineries for 2016–2018, effectively giving them a financial break on past regulatory obligations. The primary beneficiaries are ethanol producers, small refineries, and fuel retailers seeking less restrictive blending rules.
Why we flagged it
The bill's core function is to relax Clean Air Act fuel-blending standards (RVP limits) and return compliance credits to small refineries—both forms of regulatory relief and financial benefit to fuel producers and retailers, not consumers.
What the text implies
- Relaxing RVP standards may increase volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions and ground-level ozone formation, particularly during high-ozone seasons, potentially worsening air quality in non-attainment areas and increasing respiratory health costs for vulnerable populations.
- The credit return to small refineries (2016–2018) is a retroactive subsidy that bypasses normal appropriations process and may set precedent for similar relief claims from other compliance years or industries.
The full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
ethanol producers and blenders; small refineries; fuel retailers (convenience stores, gas stations)