Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency news release
LENEXA, KAN. - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today is issuing an emergency fuel waiver allowing the sale of E15 gasoline -- gasoline blended with 15% ethanol -- nationwide during the summer driving season. By doing so, EPA will keep E15 on the market giving consumers more options across the nation.
This is consistent with President Trump's Executive Order Declaring a National Energy Emergency, directing the EPA to consider issuing emergency waivers to allow for year-round E15 sales.
"President Trump's commitment to farmers and the Renewable Fuels Standard has been a cornerstone to his leadership. In my confirmation hearing, I pledged to establish certainty when it came to the sale of E15 year-round. Promises made, promises kept," said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin.
"President Trump is committed to lowering energy prices by unleashing American energy production, and it all starts with U.S. farmers, said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. This move to allow the summer sale of E-15 will provide immediate relief to consumers, provide more choices at the pump, and drive demand for corn grown, processed, and used right here in America. Our nation's great corn growers are critical to helping the U.S. achieve energy independence which is essential to national security.
"I thank Administrator Zeldin for moving quickly to implement this emergency fuel waiver and his continued commitment to U.S. famers and the U.S. biofuels industry. At USDA we look forward to our continued partnership with EPA and are working diligently to increase our energy dominance in the U.S. and abroad by expanding market access for American biofuels on the world stage."
This emergency action will provide families with relief at the pump by increasing fuel supply and ensuring a variety of gasoline fuel blends from which consumers can choose. More options at the pump helps protect consumers by reducing our reliance on imported fossil fuels, and bolstering U.S. energy independence, all while supporting American agriculture and manufacturing.
The Clean Air Act allows the EPA Administrator, in consultation with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), to temporarily waive certain fuel requirements to address shortages. As a result of ongoing issues with gasoline supplies, Administrator Zeldin determined that extreme and unusual fuel supply circumstances exist and has granted a temporary waiver to help ensure that an adequate supply of gasoline is available.
Currently, in about half of the country, E15 cannot be sold from terminals starting on May 1 and at retail stations starting on June 1. EPA is providing relief by extending the 1-psi Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) waiver for E15 gasoline. In response to requests from the Governors of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wisconsin, EPA, in this same action, is also taking action to address the States' concerns about E10 fuel standards in those states.
Specifically, the agency has also waived provisions that would have otherwise made E10 gasoline sold in those states meet a more stringent standard than conventional gasoline in other parts of the country. EPA's action for these states means E15 and E10 are sold across the region on equal footing, helping ensure adequate gasoline supplies to consumers across the country. The agency expects retail stations in those States to pass cost savings to consumers at the pump because of these waivers.
EPA's emergency fuel waiver will go into effect on May 1 when terminal operators would otherwise no longer be able to sell E15 in the affected regions of the country and will initially remain in place through May 20, the maximum number of days allowed under the Clean Air Act. EPA will continue to monitor the supply with industry and federal partners. The agency expects to issue new waivers effectively extending the emergency fuel waiver until such time as the extreme and unusual fuel supply circumstances are no longer present.
Today's actions advance Pillar 2 and Pillar 3 of Administrator Zeldin's Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative: Restore American Energy Dominance, and Permitting Reform, Cooperative Federalism, and Cross-Agency Partnership. This initiative will guide EPA's work over the first 100 days and beyond to achieve the agency's mission of protecting human health and the environment while energizing the greatness of the American economy.
For more information on this announcement,â?¯please visit EPA's Fuel Waivers webpage
here.