Washington, D.C., May 22, 2017 – Today, the Main Street Energy Alliance (MSEA) released the following statement highlighting a new video about the negative impact of shifting the Renewable Fuel Standard’s (RFS) point of obligation:

“It’s important for Americans to understand that shifting the point of obligation in the Renewable Fuel Standard will disadvantage small business owners and decrease the overall consumption of renewable fuels in the country,” said Michael Steel, a spokesman for MSEA. “The issue is quite complex, but this new video effectively walks viewers through the facts and should serve as an educational tool for those who wish to inform themselves about the issue.”

Representing more than 30 energy companies and trade associations, including fuel retailers and biofuel producers, MSEA is urging the administration to resist the calls of a few special interests to alter the point of obligation requirement under the Renewable Fuel Standard.

You can view the video here.

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Washington, D.C.– Today, the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) joined the Main Street Energy Alliance (MSEA) to stand up for small businesses and consumers across America.

“We are grateful the USHCC is joining the fight to oppose moving the point of obligation because small business owners and employees across America can’t afford harmful economic policies and higher fuel prices,” said Michael Steel, a spokesman for MSEA.

Representing more than 30 energy companies and trade associations, including fuel retailers and biofuel producers, MSEA is urging the Administration to resist the calls of a few special interests to alter the point of obligation requirement under the Renewable Fuel Standard
(RFS).

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Here’s the deal: When you pull into an Arizona gas station, you may notice that sticker on the pump telling you that the gas you’re buying contains ethanol. Ethanol, a biofuel that comes primarily from corn, is required by federal law by way of a Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

It’s probably not something you think about much. Read more…

Concerns about moving the point of obligation under the Renewable Fuel Standard has led to the forming of the Main Street Energy Alliance.

Michael Steel, president of the Alliance, says the group wants to make sure policy makers in Washington, D.C. understand what’s at stake if EPA’s point of obligation requirements are not preserved. Read more…

Opponents of a major proposed change to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) are getting organized, launching a coalition of more than two dozen fuel retailers and marketers and major oil and industry associations.

The Main Street Energy Alliance (MSEA) formed this week to counter efforts by some merchant refiners to get the point of obligation—the party responsible for meeting biofuel blending quotas under the RFS—shifted downstream to fuel blenders and retailers. The more than two dozen members include major oils BP and Shell; associations NACS, SIGMA and NATSO; retailers 7-Eleven, Casey’s General Stores, Cumberland Farms,Giant Eagle, Kum & Go, Kwik Trip, Pilot Travel Centers, RaceTrac, Ricker’s, Sheetz, QuikTrip and Thorntons; as well as several fuel marketers. Read more…

There are a few sacred cows in midwestern politics — fried foods, state fairs, manufacturing jobs — but lately, the most untouchable of them has been ethanol: ensuring that the fuel made from midwestern corn continues to be pumped into cars around the country.

On paper, President Donald Trump should be loath to mess with ethanol: He won the White House on the strength of a strong performance in farm country. Of the country’s top ten ethanol-producing states, only two — Minnesota and Illinois — did not break for Trump. Read more…

A coalition made up largely of fuel retailers has been formed to oppose efforts to change the point of obligation requirement under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

The Main Street Energy Alliance (MSEA) includes the National Association of Convenience Stores, NATSO (representing truck stops and travel plazas), the Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers of America, as well as Shell and BP. MSEA spokesman Michael Steel says refiners would benefit from the point of obligation change at the expense of consumers and small businesses. “Shifting the point of obligation would add complexity for businesses, decrease the use of biofuels, and potentially increase costs for consumers. Many energy businesses and consumers on Main Streets across this country could be negatively impacted by this effort to reward just a small few,” said Steel. Read more…

…On March 16, 2017, Sen. Chuck Grassley and Sen. Amy Klobuchar led 23 senators in a bipartisan letter urging President Trump to maintain the point of obligation under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and deny proposed changes that would derail the current program. Read more…