U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson has joined several other Midwest senators in introducing federal legislation they say is aimed at protecting the region’s biofuels industry.

The Nebraska Democrat has put his name behind one measure intended to boost ethanol consumption and another that would prevent the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from implementing a rule he says could hinder biofuels production.

The first measure — introduced Tuesday by Nelson, Sens. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., John Thune, R-S.D, and Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa — would direct the EPA to allow gasoline to contain up to a 15 percent ethanol blend. Ten percent is the current maximum allowed to be sold in the U.S.

E85 fuel, which consists of up to 85 percent ethanol, would not be affected because it is used only in “flex-fuel” vehicles equipped to handle it.

Boosting allowable ethanol percentages could mean an economic boost to Nebraska and other Corn Belt states, as corn is the preferred base for making ethanol in the U.S.

Nelson said the measure also could help fulfill federal rules that call for as much as 36 billion gallons of renewable fuel to be used annually nationwide by 2022 to meet clear air targets. It also would prevent ethanol production from outpacing the amount of ethanol-blended gasoline allowed, he said.

Although some have suggested higher ethanol blends could affect automobile performance, Nelson said many experts believe vehicles that can operate on E10 also can run on 15 percent blends.

Nelson said the EPA has been dragging its feet on the idea.

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Chicago Tribune
Margery A. Gibbs