EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

Penn Schoen Berland Renewable Fuel Standards Study

OVERVIEW
NATSO, the national trade association representing truckstops and travel plazas, the Society of Independent Gasoline
Marketers of America (SIGMA), and the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) commissioned Penn Schoen
Berland to conduct a survey of more than 1,200 U.S. voters about the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and potential
reforms on the table, including changing the point of obligation from refiners to wholesalers and fuel retailers.
According to the survey, an overwhelming proportion of U.S. voters are concerned that changing the compliance
requirements under the RFS, which is intended to reduce emissions and increase the use of ethanol and other
renewable fuels, would increase gasoline and diesel prices at the pump and add complexity and expense to the program.
The findings also reveal that voters agree that refiners, not downstream companies, should pay for the credits that cover
the cost of blending ethanol.
KEY FINDINGS
The survey revealed that 86 percent of voters believe that its likely that changes in the RFS will be passed on to
businesses and individuals in the form of higher gasoline prices at the pump.
The vast majority of respondents, 81 percent, agree that making wholesalers and fuel retailers pay for the
credits will lead to expensive administration compliance issues for the EPA, as well as the greater possibility of
renewable fuel credit fraud.
An overwhelming number of voters, 91 percent, agree that wholesalers and fuel retailers should not have to pay
for the credits that cover the cost of blending ethanol. That is the job of refiners.
METHODOLOGY
PSB conducted online interviews from November 3 - 7, 2016, among 1,201 likely voters nationwide.
The survey has a margin of error +/-2.83 at the 95 percent confidence level and larger for subgroups.
Survey respondents who answered strongly agree and somewhat agree; very likely and somewhat likely; and
those who selected 7-10 on a Likert scale, are included in the percentages above.
RAW DATA
Speaking generally, how likely is it that changes in the Renewable Fuel program will be passed on to businesses and
individuals in the form of higher gasoline prices at the pump?
Opinion
Leader Gender

Likely Voters (%)

US DC

18- 35- 5065+ Wht Blk Hsp NE MW S

34 49 64

Party

Very likely

42 48 38 45 40 35 39 48 50 43 42 38 43 38 40 50 38

44

45

43

37

43

51

36

39 46 42

48

37

Somewhat likely

44 44 45 42 46 52 45 38 37 43 42 49 42 50 44 37 46

45

38

37

49

45

41

54

48 40 43

40

48

Not very likely

13

6 16 12 14 13 15 13 11 13 16 13 15 10 15 12 16

10

16

19

13

11

13 13 13

12

15

Not at all likely

POTUS vote

Rur

<
$35k- $50k- $75k- $100k
$35k $49k $74k $99k
+

Sub

KEY DEMOGRAPHICS (AMONG LIKELY VOTERS)

Region
Habitat
Income

Race

Urb

Age

Trump Clinton

Making wholesalers and convenience stores that sell to consumers pay for the credits that cover the cost of blended
fuels will lead to expensive administration compliance issues for EPA as well as the greater possibility of renewable fuel
credit fraud. Please indicate whether you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree with
this statement.
Opinion
Leader Gender

Likely Voters (%)

Age

KEY DEMOGRAPHICS (AMONG LIKELY VOTERS)

Region
Habitat
Income

Race

Party

POTUS vote

Urb

Sub

<
$35k- $50k- $75k- $100k
Rur
$35k $49k $74k $99k
+

Strongly agree

30 28 25 32 28 28 32 34 27 30 31 36 30 31 30 31 28

28

38

25

36

27

42

33

25 33 34

36

24

Somewhat agree

51 55 54 47 55 57 49 44 52 50 45 48 41 55 50 54 54

54

38

53

41

53

48

54

56 50 45

44

58

Somewhat disagree

15

9 13 15 14 15 10 18 16 15 21 11 24 13 14 9

14

13

19

15

17

17

13

16 11 16

14

14

Strongly disagree

US DC

18- 35- 5065+ Wht Blk Hsp NE MW S

34 49 64

10

Trump Clinton

Wholesalers and convenience stores that sell to consumers do not make gasoline. That is what refiners do. Wholesalers
and convenience stores should not have to pay for the credits that cover the cost of blending ethanol. That is the job of
refiners. Please indicate whether you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree with this
statement.
Opinion
Leader Gender

Likely Voters (%)

Age

KEY DEMOGRAPHICS (AMONG LIKELY VOTERS)

Region
Habitat
Income

Race

Party

POTUS vote

Urb

Sub

<
$35k- $50k- $75k- $100k
Rur
$35k $49k $74k $99k
+

Strongly agree

48 49 55 53 44 42 48 49 59 51 45 40 40 47 58 39 50

43

57

44

54

44

58

53

47 49 49

52

47

Somewhat agree

43 43 38 38 46 48 40 43 36 41 47 47 51 42 35 50 38

48

40

46

36

44

39

40

46 42 39

39

45

Somewhat disagree

10

13

11

11

Strongly disagree

US DC

18- 35- 5065+ Wht Blk Hsp NE MW S

34 49 64

Trump Clinton