US Lawmakers Want to Boost Ethanol’s Green Appeal as EVs Threaten Fuel Use
- Bill brings together lawmakers from corn and oil states
- Growth of EVs is threatening demand for liquid fuels
Steam rises at an ethanol biorefinery in Gowrie, Iowa.
Photographer: Daniel Acker/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
US representatives from Iowa, Illinois, Texas and Oklahoma are introducing a bill that would allow corn-based ethanol to qualify as an “advanced biofuel” — a bid to boost the gasoline additive’s green credentials.
The bipartisan legislation is bringing together lawmakers from Midwestern states that grow corn along with regions tied to oil production. It’s a rare move that shows how factions that were once at odds are now working together as the proliferation of electric vehicles is threatening demand for both biofuels and traditional gasoline.