Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and a bipartisan coalition of 40 members of the U.S. House of Representatives recently introduced legislation that would cap ethanol levels at E-10, decrease use of corn-based ethanol in the Renewable Fuel Standard while promoting the use of more advanced biofuels, and require that practical considerations influence biofuel standards.

At this year's National Ethanol Conference, Chris Grundler, the director of the EPA's Office of Transportation and Air Quality said that he would prefer that the RFS was not an annual rule.

Even though the EPA proposed RFS for 2014 was 15.21 billion gallons, down from 16.55 billion gallons in 2013, a final standard was never issued and the agency has already missed the statutory deadline to finalize the 2015 RFS. They claim budget cuts are partially responsible.

''The RFS debate in Washington has gotten overheated. It's gotten ugly at times. My hope is that we can find a way to have a civil discourse and find a practical way forward that will work for everyone.''
- EPA's Grundler

Both the oil and biofuels industry have threatened the EPA with lawsuits over the biofuels blending mandate and similar regulations.

The Chicago Clean Air Choice Ordinance, the proposed law that would require all filling stations in Chicago that sell more than 500,000 gallons of fuel per year to have self-service equipment that dispenses mid-grade E15, was passed by Chicago's City Council's finance committee and brought to the full council on Dec. 10 but was delayed for a vote, with Mayor Rahm Emanuel saying the measure "needs more work."

The Equipment Engine & Training Council, a nonprofit association dedicated to enhancing and promoting the education of outdoor power equipment service technicians, has joined forces with the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute in its Look Before You Pump campaign, and will distribute campaign messaging and materials to its membership and other stakeholders.