Most U.S. voters against change in renewable fuel compliance
Over 85% of U.S. voters agree that shifting renewable fuel compliance would harm consumers, new survey says.
A majority of American voters believe that shifting the point of obligation under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) from refiners to wholesalers and fuel retailers would harm the economy and hard-working Americans, according to a survey by NATSO, the national trade association representing truckstops and travel plazas, the Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers of America (SIGMA), and the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS).
The survey, conducted by Penn Schoen Berland (PSB), found that 86 percent of voters believe that changing the compliance requirements under the RFS, which is intended to reduce emissions and increase the use of ethanol and other renewable fuels, would increase gasoline and diesel prices at the pump.
“A vast majority of U.S. voters agree that any shift would increase fuel prices for consumers, add complexity to the system, and increase fraud,” said Lisa Mullings, president and CEO of NATSO.
These findings are being released as some refineries and their investors, who failed to invest in renewable fuel blending facilities, are now displeased with their business decisions and are pushing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to shift their costs to wholesalers and fuel retailers.
