Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) are asking the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to further study possible anti-competitive practices by certain oil companies. The senators in a letter to the DOJ and FTC referenced a study by the Renewable Fuels Association that found some oil companies blocking the sale of renewable fuels.

According to the study, unbranded or independent stations are “roughly four to six times more likely to offer E85 and 40 times more likely to offer E15 than stations carrying a “Big Five” oil brand.” The senators are asking the DOJ and the FTC to review the report, investigate the claims and findings included in it, and let the senators know the conclusion of possible anti-competitive behavior and any proposed solution or actions that the DOJ and the FTC would take to resolve the issue.