FRANKFORT, Ky. — Rep. Jerry Miller (R, Eastwood) wants President Joe Biden to temporarily suspend the requirement that Jefferson County and parts of Bullitt and Oldham Counties use reformulated gasoline, or RFG, through the end of the year.
What You Need To Know
- Kentucky lawmakers have recently filed House Concurrent Resolution 124
- It calls on President Joe Biden to temporarily suspend reformulated gas requirements for Jefferson County and parts of Bullitt and Oldham counties for the rest of the year
- Louisville Metro Council Member James Peden also filed a resolution urging the governor and General Assembly to request an emergency waiver from the EPA
- The use of RFG is part of a binding agreement with the EPA, according to the Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District
“People used to fill up their tank for $25 or $30,” he said. “It’s now $50, $60, and it’s just gotten to the point where people on a fixed income or low-income people just cannot take it.”
Miller wants to see the requirement temporarily lifted wherever it may still be in place around the country.
According to House Concurrent Resolution 124, the state opted in to the requirements in the ‘90s and last year, RFG was up to $0.35 more expensive than conventional gas.
“RFG was implemented at a time when technology was not as good as it is today, cars were not as clean running,” Miller said. “There is really a question in many people’s minds, is it really necessary anymore?”
Sen. David Yates (D, Louisville) said he would be supportive of immediate relief for Kentuckians.
“Like anything, the devil’s in the details,” he said. “We need to make sure that there’s not going to be any type of long-term consequences or unintended consequences.”
Louisville Metro Council Member James Peden (R, 23) also filed a resolution this week urging the governor and General Assembly to request an emergency waiver on RFG from the EPA.
The resolution states, in part, “With the recent ban on oil imports from Russia, gas prices in Louisville Metro have already climbed to more than $4.00 per gallon, and it is expected the prices will continue to increase.”
In a statement provided Tuesday, the Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District said, in part, “The use of RFG is one of the tools used to help the Louisville area attain and maintain the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ground-level ozone (03) … The effect that the use of RFG has on our air is relatively small but it is meaningful.”
Using RFG is part of a binding agreement with the EPA and APCD cannot waive the requirement, according to the statement.
House Concurrent Resolution 124 has not yet been assigned to a committee.