Biden Administration Considers Year-Round Sales of E15 to Bring Prices Down at the Pump

From EMA: 

The Biden Administration opened the door to a possible summertime E15 waiver after a bipartisan group of lawmakers called on the White House to lift the ban of summer sales of gasoline with higher blends of ethanol. The White House confirmed that a move to year-round sales of E15 is “in the menu of options” the Biden Administration is evaluating to bring down fuel prices as the summer driving season approaches. Iowa’s congressional delegation in a joint letter to U.S. EPA Administrator Michael Regan last week advocated for the increased use of biofuels. The lawmakers urged the Biden administration to expand the production and potential export of ethanol and biodiesel to meet global energy needs in light of the ban on Russian oil and the global spike in the price of crude. There are numerous factors impact prices at the pump, including crude oil and refinery costs, inflation, supply chain disruptions, transportation costs, speculative bets in the futures markets, credit card interchange fees, boutique fuel costs, federal/state taxes and global uncertainty.

The following day, a bipartisan group of 16 senators, led by Senators John Tune (R-SD) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) sent a letter to President Biden urging him to help curb rising domestic energy costs by enabling year-round sales of E15. Ethanol producers along with other retail groups sent letters to the White House supporting year-round sales of E15.

EMA also sent a letter to the White House urging caution when evaluating a summertime E15 sales waiver stating the EPA lacks the authority to do so under the Clean Air Act and that any cost savings at the pump would be negligible. EMA reminded the Administration of E15 compatibility issues with most UST systems currently in operation and the reduced energy contact in ethanol as additional reasons not to lift the summertime ban on E15.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE LETTER.