Obama set to issue ethanol fuel mandate

[Geee]

The Hill:

The Obama administration is poised to update a controversial standard for ethanol levels in gasoline after months of sparring over the future of the fuel between pro-ethanol groups and the oil industry.

 

The White House has until Nov. 30 to finalize a rule that sets the amount of ethanol that oil refiners are required to blend into their fuel.

 

Groups on both sides of the issue were unhappy when the Environmental Protection Agency proposed the updated Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) in May, and they've fought over it openly since then.

 

Broadly, ethanol backers want the agency to require more ethanol in gasoline, noting that the EPA's proposed targets are below those passed by Congress. But the oil industry says it's already blending as much ethanol as possible into the fuel supply without risking harm to vehicles.

 

Competing business groups have peppered television viewers in Washington and around the country with millions of dollars' worth of advertising over the last month.