Lawmakers Draft Fuel Rules in Possible Hit to Some Refiners

US lawmakers are preparing to advance a plan that promises to expand the market for corn-based ethanol while scaling back exemptions for oil refineries that don’t use enough of it.

The legislation seeks to tackle two issues, allowing year-round nationwide sales of higher-ethanol E15 gasoline, while also limiting what small refineries qualify for exemptions from annual biofuel-blending standards, according to a draft seen by Bloomberg.

The move comes as both the oil and agriculture sectors have been anxiously awaiting the Trump administration’s finalization of biofuel-blending quotas, which have been delayed, leaving uncertainty over how companies will be impacted.

Read ...