September 25, 2020
Illinois Rep. Cheri Bustos introduced the Next Generation Fuels Act in the U.S. House on Sept. 24. The legislation leverages greater fuel octane to reduce carbon emissions from transportation, improve air quality and increase biofuel demand.
Fuels with greater levels of octane are more stable and have the potential to make engines more fuel-efficient. This legislation establishes a minimum octane standard for gasoline and requires sources of the added octane value to reduce carbon emissions by at least 30% compared to baseline gasoline. Furthermore, the legislation limits the use of harmful aromatics in meeting this new higher octane standard, as well as in current-market gasoline.
“The Next Generation Fuels Act looks toward the future to make sure we bring an environmental lens to biofuels production, in order to increase demand while reducing carbon emissions," said Bustos, a Democrat.