The Renewable Fuels Association today welcomed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s emergency waiver allowing E15 (gasoline containing 15 percent ethanol) to be sold during the summer driving season. The following is a statement from RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper:
“We commend Administrator Regan and his team at EPA for acting quickly and decisively to implement the emergency fuel waiver announced recently by President Biden. As U.S. and global gasoline stocks continue to shrink as a result of Putin’s war on Ukraine, EPA’s action will help prevent summertime fuel shortages while also protecting air quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Extending the fuel supply with larger volumes of lower-cost, lower-carbon ethanol makes perfect sense, and we thank the Biden administration for turning to America’s farm fields for help instead of Saudi Arabia’s oil fields. Today’s emergency waiver will ensure cost-conscious drivers across the country will continue to have access to more affordable E15 all summer long. The E15 blend has typically been priced 20-30 cents per gallon below regular gasoline in recent months, offering an important measure of relief to consumers during this time of surging inflation.”
The waiver follows an April 12 announcement from President Biden that such an action was forthcoming. Following that announcement, RFA released a review of myths and facts about the E15 blend, pointing out especially that it will have a positive effect on reducing summertime air pollution. EPA’s release today notes that the agency “…does not expect any impact on air quality” from the summertime waiver and states that “consumers can continue to use E15 without concern that its use in the summer will impact air quality.”
In addition to today’s action, eight Midwest governors from both political parties notified EPA yesterday that they are exercising the authority granted to them under the Clean Air Act to forgo the statutory summertime E10 waiver starting in 2023, which would allow retailers and marketers in their states to permanently sell E15 unincumbered in the future.
