The Kentucky Corn Growers Association applauds the introduction of The Next Generation Fuels Act. This legislation, that was introduced yesterday in the U.S. House of Representatives, will boost long term corn demand for clean, affordable ethanol. It recognizes the high octane, low carbon benefits of corn ethanol and modernizes the regulation around liquid fuels to be more compatible with biofuels and enables the opportunities they can bring for both farmers and consumers.
The Next Generation Fuels Act establishes a new 98 Research Octane Number (RON) standard for gasoline and requires that sources of additional octane result in at least 30 percent fewer greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than unblended gasoline. This will ensure the progress already made to lower emissions through cleaner, renewable fuels continues. Through advanced engine design features that can take advantage of the octane in this new fuel, automakers will be able to increase engine performance and significantly improve vehicle fuel efficiency.
A new 98 RON would facilitate mid-level blends like E25 and E30 which would generate new corn grind.
“This legislation provides an octane standard that has been on automakers’, petroleum refiners’ and corn farmers’ wish list for several years,” said Laura Knoth, Executive Director for Kentucky Corn. “Also, we have long advocated for a level playing field in liquid fuel regulations for ethanol. By updating the R-Factor that calculates vehicle efficiency and replacing EPA’s flawed MOVES Model with DOE’s GREET Model to account for agricultural production advances, this legislation provides ethanol fair footing to compete for space in the tank with petroleum-based octane enhancers.”
Ethanol has an octane rating of 113. That feature combined with other properties, like lower cost and environmental benefits, proves ethanol to be a very competitive octane enhancer. It provides the greatest efficiency gains at the least cost to drivers while displacing the most harmful human health and dangerous environmental components of gasoline.
The Next Generation Fuels Act is sponsored by Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-IL. Kentucky Corn Growers Association looks forward to working with our representatives in Washington to continue to build support for policies that take greater advantage of ethanol’s benefits. Click here, for a 2-page summary of the bill.
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) has provided extensive scientific information on the benefits of high octane fuels, these resources can be found at www.ncga.com/octane.