E15 In Time for Summer

‘Tis the season! 

… for the EPA to approve E15 usage across the nation for the summer. It’s becoming a bit of an annual tradition. The emergency waiver goes into effect May 1.

E15 an emergency? According to Todd Neeley of the Progressive Farmer, Biden’s EPA finalized a rule on February 22, 2024, allowing eight Midwestern states to permanently sell E15 year-round with delayed implementation to April 28, 2025. Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin are on that list. 

An emergency waiver was needed because terminal operators would not be able to sell E15 to other regions in the country. With this waiver, fuel marketers and distributors won’t have to shift to E10 and there won’t be an increased demand for petroleum gasoline that would occur. 

The waiver will be in place through May 20, the maximum number of days allowed under the Clean Air Act. The EPA plans to issue new waivers extending E15 usage longer.

Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa hopes this is the last year a waiver will be necessary.

Soundbite: “Because I hope a bill that I co-sponsored, a bipartisan bill that would allow E15 sales year-round and nationwide, would pass.” — Senator Grassley

The House and Senate have both introduced legislation allowing E15 blends to be used year-round. In the House, 39 members are supportive, while 17 senators currently back it. 

Fun fact: E15 is approved in more than 95% of American vehicles on the road today.

It makes cents: E15 saves drivers 15-25 cents per gallon, a 7.5% discount from regular unleaded.