Late on Friday, the Environmental Protection Agency announced it would uphold the current April 28, 2025, implementation date for allowing E15 year-round in several Midwestern states. The EPA announcement also noted that important negotiations on a legislative solution permanently allowing year-round E15 nationwide are ongoing in Congress. In response to the news, RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper made the following statement:
“America’s ethanol producers and farmers are grateful to the Midwest governors who took the initiative to create a year-round market for E15 in their states, and it is reassuring that EPA intends to adhere to the law and follow through with implementation. As a nationwide solution has so far remained elusive, we applaud both the governors and EPA Administrator Zeldin for standing firm on this approach. At the same time, Ohio’s request to pull its E15 petition is a troubling sign that underscores the urgency of securing a federal legislative solution as soon as possible. A state-by-state approach would not be necessary if Congress passed the nationwide, year-round E15 legislation recently introduced in both the House and Senate. The bipartisan E15 bills have broad political and stakeholder support and accomplish President Trump’s goal of removing regulatory red tape and opening new markets for America’s farmers and the energy sector. While the legislative solution is strongly preferred by all, we were also encouraged to see EPA is considering issuing emergency waivers to allow the uninterrupted sale of E15 nationwide this summer if Congress fails to act. Let’s hope that won’t be necessary.”
RFA encourages supporters of year-round access to lower-cost, cleaner-burning E15 to sign on to this letter announced last week by the National Corn Growers Association at RFA’s National Ethanol Conference.
