WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) spoke at the Growth Energy Biofuels Summit where she was presented with the organization’s 2023 Fueling Growth Award for her work to support homegrown fuels.

“Family farmers in Central and Southern Illinois play a critical role in fueling our families and our future,” said Congresswoman Budzinski.“It was such an honor to receive the Fueling Growth Award for my efforts to support our biofuels producers and the markets they drive for farmers across our region. I look forward to continuing my work with Growth Energy to support the lower gas prices and reduced emissions that homegrown biofuels provide.”

“We’re honored to award Rep. Nikki Budzinski with a 2023 Fueling Growth Award,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “In just a few short months, Rep. Budzinski has shown leadership and initiative in the U.S. House promoting policies that are pro-ethanol and pro-American agriculture. We’re excited to have a new champion in Rep. Budzinski and are grateful to have her fighting for biofuels in Congress.”

As a member of the House Committee on Agriculture, Congresswoman Budzinski has established herself as a bipartisan leader in supporting biofuels production and family farmers across Central and Southern Illinois. Her Next Generation Fuels Act, Sustainable Aviation Fuels Accuracy Act and Fuels Parity Act would take significant steps to support the future of homegrown biofuels. Additional information on Budzinski’s biofuels legislation can be found below: 

• The Next Generation Fuels Act would phase in higher gasoline octane levels through the greater use of ethanol beginning with a 95 Research Octane Number (RON) standard for automobile model year 2028 and increasing to 98 RON by model year 2033. For a new vehicle to receive certification from an automaker, the bill would require the automobile to operate with an E25 blend for model year 2028 and an E30 blend for model year 2033 onwards. The bill would also require fuel retailers to carry these higher blend fuels.

• The Sustainable Aviation Fuels Accuracy Act would require the federal government to use the most up-to-date lifecycle emissions models—including the U.S. Department of Energy commissioned, Argonne National Lab’s Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Technologies Model or GREET model—that accurately considers crops, land uses and carbon reduction practices in the U.S and does not arbitrarily prevent our American farmers and crops from contributing to the green economy.

• The Fuels Parity Act would allow corn to qualify as an advanced biofuel – incentivizing lower emissions from ethanol production and allowing corn to access another bucket of the RFS. If ethanol can meet the scientific thresholds, then it should be allowed to qualify as an advanced biofuel and generate an advanced biofuel renewable identification number.

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