[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 95 (Thursday, June 4, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E526]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              SUPPORTING H.R. 1346, ACCESS TO YEARLONG E15

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 4, 2026

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1346, the 
Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, which would ensure 
that Americans across the country have access to year-round E15. 
Minnesota is a leader in biofuels, and I stand in support of expanding 
E15 to all consumers, lowering the cost to fill their gas tanks.
  Currently, Minnesota and other states that want to sell year-round 
E15 must go through an EPA waiver system. Technological advancements of 
E15 have led to the waiver process being an unnecessary regulatory 
hurdle for states to jump through. This process has led to uncertainty 
for small fuel stations. These small fuel stations do not want to 
invest in E15 pumps if there is no certainty that they will be allowed 
to sell E15.
  Minnesota is a national leader for E15. We have 18 ethanol plants and 
produce over 1.4 billion gallons. This biofuel is sold at over 550 gas 
stations across Minnesota, a number that will surely rise with the 
passage of yearlong E15. Biofuel production has seen great advancement 
in the last twenty years. In the early 2000s, a gallon of ethanol might 
need 10-20 gallons of water to produce. Now, that number is closer to 2 
gallons of water for every gallon of ethanol. Water discharge has 
decreased for all producers. Some biofuel producers in Minnesota have a 
completely closed loop, with zero discharge. Minnesota legislators 
worked hard to ensure that an increase in E15 production and 
consumption did not lead to increased environmental concerns. Other 
states should follow our lead as we head towards yearlong E15.
  At a time of increased energy costs, yearlong E15 is a commonsense 
policy. There are exciting new sources of fuel, like switchgrass, that 
should also be researched as alternatives to corn. I have supported 
efforts in the past to research the viability of alternate biofuel 
sources and would be interested in pursing that research again. We 
cannot rely on corn alone to produce the ethanol of the future.

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