Kansas Corn, Ethanol Would Benefit from Bill that Sets High Octane, Low Carbon Standard

Sept. 24, 2020–The Kansas Corn Growers Association (KCGA) welcomed the Next Generation Fuels Act of 2020, introduced today by Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill. The bill is the first step toward implementing a High Octane, Low Carbon Fuel Standard that would remove current barriers to increased ethanol use by giving automakers the tools to produce engines optimized to run on higher octane fuels. The bill recognizes the high octane, low carbon benefits of corn ethanol by establishing a new 98 Research Octane Number (RON) standard for gasoline and requiring that sources of additional octane result in a 30 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

“After more than a year of discussions and negotiations, we finally have a bill that sets the standard,” KCGA’s Vice President of Market Development and Public Policy Josh Roe said. “Simply put, the bill sets the stage for automakers to produce engines optimized to run on high octane fuels containing up to 30% ethanol, limits the amount of harmful aromatics in unleaded gasoline and requires EPA to put ethanol on a level playing field with unleaded gasoline.”

Ethanol is the most efficient and cost-effective octane source, providing the greatest efficiency gains at the least cost to drivers while displacing the most harmful components of gasoline.

KCGA, working with the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and other industry partners, will advocate for the bill as it moves through Congress.

“This is a key advancement in fuel ethanol and something that brings tangible benefits to farmers, ethanol producers, car manufacturers, motorists and the environment,” Roe said