Thune: Senate E15 Bill Stalls Without Small Refinery Exemptions

South Dakota Senator and Majority Leader John Thune says the Senate version of the bill to allow year-round sales of E15 gasoline lacks enough votes without concessions for small oil refineries.

The bill aims to strengthen the farm economy by making higher ethanol-blended gasoline available throughout the year, rather than just during the summer months when a federal waiver is required.

Oponents argue that higher ethanol blends could worsen summer smog and encourage the conversion of grasslands for corn farming, while supporters say it would make the country more energy independent.

Thune identified lawmakers from oil-producing and refining states as key to getting the bill passed, including those from Montana, Wyoming, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Tennessee.