# Plain Language Summary: Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2023

This bill makes it easier for fuel companies to sell gasoline blended with higher percentages of ethanol, particularly E15 (gasoline with 15% ethanol). Right now, the Environmental Protection Agency has strict rules about how much ethanol can be mixed into gasoline, partly because of concerns about something called "Reid Vapor Pressure"—basically, how easily the fuel evaporates. The bill removes or relaxes some of these restrictions, allowing fuel retailers to sell ethanol-blended gasoline more freely as long as it meets other environmental standards.

The practical effect is that you'd likely see more ethanol-blended fuel options at gas pumps, especially in agricultural states like Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota where corn-based ethanol is produced. Supporters argue this helps farmers by increasing demand for corn-based ethanol and gives consumers more fuel choices. However, there's a catch: not all vehicles run well on higher ethanol blends. Older cars, motorcycles, and some small engines can be damaged by E15 fuel, so drivers would need to know which fuel their vehicle can handle. The bill essentially shifts more responsibility to consumers and retailers to make sure the right fuel goes into the right vehicles.

The bill also changes the timeline for when fuel companies can notify the EPA about new fuel blends, making the approval process potentially faster. This is mainly a win for the ethanol industry and fuel retailers who want more flexibility, but consumers need to be aware that they'll have more options at the pump—and more responsibility to choose the right one for their car.

Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2023

Smith, Adrian

Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2023 This bill amends the Clean Air Act to address the limitations on Reid Vapor Pressure (a measure of gasoline's volatility) that are placed on gasoline during the summer ozone season. Specifically, the bill applies the waiver for Reid Vapor Pressure requirements that are applicable to gasoline blended with 10% ethanol (E10) to gasoline blended with more than 10% ethanol. This change allows gasoline that is blended with more than 10% ethanol to be sold year round.