Keep Fuel Affordable Coalition Spotlights Broad Opposition to Harmful Impacts of Pending “E15” Legislation
National Ad Campaign Highlights Why Congress Must “Vote No” Tomorrow on H.R. 1346 (Fischbach Amendment); Bill Undermines Domestic Refining Capacity, Jobs, Environment and Increases Gas Prices at the Pump
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As Congress prepares to take up H.R. 1346 (Fischbach Amendment), the Keep Fuel Affordable Coalition is highlighting the broad coalition of interests – from conservative outlets and business entities to labor union and environmental organizations – urging Congress to reject this legislation and the impact it would have on driving refinery closures, job losses, environmental concerns, lower domestic refining capacity, and higher gas prices for everyday Americans at a time they can least afford it.
Increasing Compliance Costs Aimed at Closing Small & Independent Refineries and Raising Costs for Drivers and Taxpayers
The Keep Fuel Affordable Coalition has
launched a national television and digital ad with a 30-second spot, titled
“Not the Time”,
making it clear that Congress should stand with President Trump and the American people for common-sense and balanced energy reforms that mitigate rising costs at the pump.
Small and independent refineries have sent letters to House Leadership and the Rules Committee detailing how the bill would undermine statutory protections and threaten closures.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) today
released its analysis of H.R. 1346 showing that the bill would “result in a modest increase in E15 sales,” but “impose private sector mandates” and
increase the national deficit by $2.27 Billion.
Please see below for further background on the impacts compliance costs have on small and independent refineries across America.
Republicans Stand with President Trump’s Energy Dominance Agenda
President Trump
has been clear in calling for a consensus-based approach that
balances the interests of ‘farmers, consumers, and refiners, including small and midsize refiners.”
A new national survey from Pulse Decision Science released this week shows decisive Republican support for regulatory relief for small refineries, underscoring the need for Congress to take a more balanced approach to fuel policy reform instead of rushing forward with so-called E15 legislation that would eliminate protections for small refineries. According to the survey,
64 percent of Republican voters support maintaining regulatory relief for small refineries, including Small Refinery Exemptions under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), highlighting broad concern about policies that could increase fuel prices and threaten domestic refining capacity.
U.S. Representatives
Moran
(TX-01),
Perry (PA-10) and Roy (TX-21)
, and the
Freedom Caucus Foundation have all registered their opposition.
Energy and Free-Market Analysts Voice Economic Concerns with the Bill
This weekend, the Wall Street Journal Editorial Board weighed in against E15 legislation “socking small refiners” at the expense of “drivers at the pump”.
The Conservative Coalition for Climate Solutions has called the E15 Proposal
“a surefire way to force refinery closures and drive up gas prices” in an
op-ed published at the Daily Caller.
Free-market energy advocates have voiced concerns in opposition of the bill, including:
Threats to American Jobs Drives Union Trades Opposition
The
Engineers Action and Response Network (EARN)
and
International Union of Operating Engineers (IOUE)
have
launched a petition to action over the concerning impact this legislation will have on refinery closures and union trades job losses. The IOUE are joined by the
International
Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers & Helpers; the
AFL-CIO and
United Steelworkers in their concerns and opposition.
Last week, the Labor & Energy Alliance convened a Congressional Briefing featuring discussion with labor union leaders on the mounting pressures small refineries face, including a renewed risk of closures, job loss and higher fuel prices for American families.
Environmental Groups Voice Opposition to E15 Bill
Environmental organizations including the Sierra Club, World Resources Institute, Waterkeeper Alliance and others
issued a statement in opposition
to “E15” expansion, noting their concerns on climate impacts and environmental consequences in addition to the impacts on economic costs, limited energy benefits and distributional effects.
The “Green Scissors Coalition” – consisting of Friends of the Eart, U.S. PIRG, Environment America and others – also
sent a letter to the House urging them to oppose the legislation, highlighting the bill would add billions more in taxpayer costs and “worsens air, soil, and water quality.”
The Facts on Compliance Costs:
- While the bill is being messaged as just authorizing year-round E15, 14 of the 17-page bill text consists of provisions affecting only small refineries.
- Historic Compliance Costs Placing Small & Independent Refineries at Greater Risk Set to Soar Further:
Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) compliance costs are at historic levels, adding materially to fuel production costs and ultimately prices at the pump.
- Staggering $13.31 Cost Per Barrel
(as of May 5, 2026) for Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs); more than double the Biden Administration’s average ($6.33) and over 5x higher than that of President Trump’s 1st term ($2.24).
- Exceeding $100 Million Annually for a Single Small Refinery in unsustainable Renewable Identification Number (RINs) costs driving costs into the fuel supply chain and threatening small refinery viability. At $2 per ethanol RIN as of May 5, 2026 - doubled from a year ago - these costs represent small refineries’ highest operating costs except for crude.
- EPA recently
set record RVOs for 2026-2027; accompanying
Regulatory Impact Analysis
estimates new RVO costs will exceed $18 Billion with no net benefits.
Proponents are masking and marketing this legislation under the guise of being an E15 solution, when in fact President Trump and the EPA have already authorized nationwide E15 for this year.
The Policy Debate
Congress has continued to debate legislation that would allow year-round nationwide sales of E15 gasoline. While supporters say the measure would expand fuel choices, small and independent refiners warn that without comprehensive modernization of the Renewable Fuel Standard:
- Renewable Identification Number (RIN) compliance costs will continue to disproportionately burden small and independent refiners;
- Refinery closures in rural communities become more likely;
- Fuel supply constraints may increase price volatility;
- Consumers could face higher gas and food prices.
Unlike large integrated oil companies, small and independent refineries often lack the blending infrastructure and operational advantages necessary to absorb rising compliance costs, making them more vulnerable to regulatory changes.
The Keep Fuel Affordable Coalition supports maintaining consumer access to affordable fuel - but argues that Congress must enact meaningful RFS reforms before expanding E15 mandates.
The Keep Fuel Affordable Coalition is a recently formed advocacy organization committed to protecting affordable fuel, preserving American energy jobs, and ensuring federal fuel policies strengthen - not weaken - domestic energy security.
###
