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Bipartisan Group of Lawmakers Seeks Immediate Action on Year-Round E15

February 9, 2023

Congress, E15

           

The Renewable Fuels Association today applauded a bipartisan group of 31 U.S. Senators and House Representatives for urging the Biden administration to quickly approve a petition from Midwest governors to allow the year-round sale of E15 in their states.

 

“We thank this group of proactive biofuel supporters for seeking swift action on a petition that has been delayed for far too long,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “With the summer driving season rapidly approaching, the unnecessary and illegal delay of the Governors’ petition threatens the availability of lower-cost, lower-carbon E15. Consumers are demanding more affordable, lower-carbon options at the pump, and failure to immediately approve this petition will deny them the opportunity for meaningful savings at the time when they need it most.”

 

In their letter, the bipartisan group of members from both the U.S. Senate and House noted that governors are allowed under the Clean Air Act to permanently remove the 1-psi volatility waiver for ethanol blends in their states, and that EPA has a 90-day deadline to sign off on the action. EPA’s statutory deadline to approve the governors’ petition was July 27, 2022—more than 180 days ago. The White House Office of Management and Budget began reviewing EPA’s regulatory action responding to the governors in December, but that regulatory package has not yet been released to the public. Last month, a group of Midwest attorneys general wrote EPA demanding speedy action, an action cited by the members of Congress in their letter.

 

“Higher blends of ethanol like E15 are a common-sense solution to lower the cost for consumers at the gas pump and to lower vehicle emissions,” the lawmakers wrote. “As we gear up for the summer 2023 travel season, we have the production and distribution infrastructure to meet consumer demand for this lower cost and environmentally friendly fuel option. By working swiftly to finalize the Governors’ requests, you will bring much needed certainty to our corn growers, fuel retailers, and consumers to enjoy the clean-burning, lower cost benefits of year-round E15 through the 2023 summer driving season.”

 

Click here for the letter.