# Year-Round Fuel Choice Act of 2021

This bill makes it easier for gas stations to sell ethanol-blended gasoline year-round by relaxing federal air quality rules that currently restrict when and where this fuel can be sold. Right now, the EPA limits the sale of higher-ethanol blends during summer months in certain areas because ethanol can increase something called "Reid Vapor Pressure," which affects how much fuel evaporates into the air on hot days. This bill essentially removes that seasonal restriction for ethanol blends that received federal approval before 2017, allowing them to be sold whenever they meet other air quality standards.

The practical effect is that gas stations would have more flexibility in selling ethanol-blended fuels throughout the year instead of switching between different fuel formulations seasonally. This could benefit farmers and ethanol producers, since ethanol is primarily made from corn and increased demand means more sales. It might also slightly lower gas prices in some areas since ethanol is cheaper than pure gasoline. The bill also clarifies that fuel blends with 10 percent ethanol or higher can be sold more broadly under existing rules.

The environmental impact is less clear-cut. Supporters argue that ethanol is a renewable fuel that reduces dependence on oil, while critics worry that removing vapor pressure restrictions could increase air pollution in areas that already struggle with smog, particularly during hot summer months when ozone pollution is worst. The bill essentially trades off potential air quality concerns in some regions for the economic benefits of increased ethanol fuel availability.

Year-Round Fuel Choice Act of 2021

Year-Round Fuel Choice Act of 2021 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. The bill applies the Reid vapor pressure requirements that are applicable to gasoline blended with 10% ethanol (E10) to gasoline blended with more than 10% ethanol. Thus, the waiver given to E10 gasoline, which allows an increase in the Reid Vapor Pressure volatility, is extended to gasoline blended with more than 10% ethanol.