The Renewable Fuels Association in the United States is
accusing major oil companies of using contracts to discourage the sale of
ethanol at levels of 15 per cent per gallon (E15) and 85 per cent per gallon
(E85) at retail stations.
The association says the oil-company distribution contracts make
it expensive or nearly impossible for franchises to offer the blends.
Senators Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat from Minnesota, and Chuck
Grassley, a Republican from Iowa, said Wednesday the report bolstered the case
for the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to evaluate whether the oil
industry has engaged in anti-competitive practices.
“This new report underscores the need for the FTC to look
into these allegations, and I will continue pushing to ensure that consumers
have access to the cheaper, cleaner fuels they deserve,” Klobuchar, who chairs
the Senate judiciary committee’s antitrust panel, said in a statement.
