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Reps.
Green, Ryan call on feds to waive reformulated gas mandates in Wisconsin
With gas prices reaching record levels around the state, reps say Wisconsin motorists should have access to the cheapest gasoline possible
WASHINGTON
– With gas prices topping the $3 mark in several parts of the state, U.S.
Reps. Mark Green (R-Green Bay) and Paul Ryan (R-Janesville) wrote a letter to
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Wednesday asking for an immediate
waiver of reformulated gas requirements in Wisconsin – a move they said would
allow Wisconsin motorists to use cheaper, conventional gasoline rather than the
more expensive specialized seasonal blends.
“Gas prices are spiraling out of control, and
thousands of
Wisconsin
drivers are being left in the dust,” Green said.
“If steps aren’t taken now to stabilize prices at the pump it’s
going to be a long, long summer. The
EPA has the power to provide immediate relief to Wisconsinites by waiving our
reformulated gas requirements and giving folks access to the cheapest gas
possible.”
“Soaring gas prices are hitting drivers and
businesses hard across the nation, but Wisconsinites bear an even heavier burden
because of the unique blend of reformulated gas certain areas are required to
use during the summer months. A
waiver makes sense to help address this layer of the gas price problem.
The bottom line is: boutique fuels translate to higher gas prices and
this must be fixed,” Ryan said.
Since arriving in Congress, Green and Ryan have
taken many steps to combat high gas prices, including:
- Voting
to require the Federal Trade Commission to investigate price gouging by oil
companies – a provision that was included in comprehensive energy
legislation signed into law last year;
- Voting
to create harsh new federal penalties for parties that engage in price
gouging – a provision that was included in the “GAS Act,” legislation
that passed the House but is now stalled in the Senate.
Both Green and Ryan called on the Senate to pass the “GAS Act” as
soon as possible;
- Writing
legislation that passed into law last year as part of the energy bill that
stops boutique fuels from multiplying and provides the EPA with limited
authority to issue temporary waivers during supply emergencies;
- Repeatedly
introducing legislation to reduce the number of boutique fuel blends
produced in the
United States
. The proliferation of boutique
fuels has played a major role in limiting refining capacity, making it more
difficult to increase the supply of gasoline when it’s needed most;
- Working
to reduce our dependence on foreign oil by supporting proposals that would
open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to limited oil and gas
exploration; and
- Repeatedly
fighting efforts by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
to reduce world oil supplies by limiting their production – actions which
have helped lead to gas price spikes in the
United States
.
- CLICK HERE FOR A COPY OF GREEN AND RYAN’S LETTER TO THE EPA -
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Contact: Kate
Matus (202) 226-7326
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