US: Senate antitrust head Klobuchar calls for DOJ, FTC oil probe

Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) called upon the US Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission to open an investigation into the nation’s oil industry to probe anticompetitive practices that could limit consumer access to certain types of fuels.

Reports say the Klobuchar, who heads the Senate’s antitrust subcommittee, and Grassley reportedly sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder and FTC chairwoman Edith Ramierez urging the two to initiate the investigation over the senators’ concern for possible collusion in the industry.

Antitrust practices could be limiting consumer access to some renewable fuels, especially certain ethanol blends, they said. The senators wrote that they “have heard reports that oil companies are taking steps to undermine efforts to distribute renewable fuels” necessary to meet requirements by the RFS, or renewable fuel standard.

The letter also outlines specific abuses rumored to take place within some companies in the industry, including forcing gas stations to carry premium gasoline if they want to carry regular gas.

Full Content: Ethanol Producer

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