JOHNSTON, Iowa — On April 12, President Biden announced that his administration has removed the summertime barriers for E15. E15 is the most affordable, climate friendly fuel on the market, right now, that can provide relief at the pump for all drivers. Due to high fuel prices from Russia’s war against Ukraine, President Biden announced that the EPA will use emergency authority under the Clean Air Act to remove the outdated Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) restrictions on gasoline for June 1 to September 15, 2022.
“Farmers are proud to be called upon to be part of the solution for consumers to have access to homegrown, clean-burning and more affordable E15,” said Lance Lillibridge, president of the Iowa Corn Growers Association and a farmer from Vinton. “We thank the Biden Administration for removing barriers for E15 to have access to the marketplace throughout the summer of 2022. Biofuels are climate-friendly fuels. E15 can be used to fuel over ninety-seven percent of vehicles on the road today, as well as save drivers real money at the pump.”
E15 is a fuel blend containing 15 percent ethanol and is approved for use in all 2001 and newer vehicles. Outdated RVP regulations restrict fuel retailers’ ability to market E15 during the peak driving season. Today’s emergency authority is not a permanent fix to allow drivers access to E15 year-round, but it will break down the barriers for this summer.
“We thank the President for providing homegrown E15 access to the summer marketplace for 2022 and look forward to working with the Administration on solutions to restore E15 beyond this year,” shared Lillibridge.
“America needs an immediate fix at the fuel pump, and E15 is here to meet that need,” said Jeff Broin, POET Founder & CEO. “Bioethanol is an affordable, available, American-made fuel that can lower gas prices and boost our nation’s energy independence right now.”
Biden made his announcement during a visit to POET Bioprocessing – Menlo, one of POET’s 33 state-of-the-art bioethanol production facilities. POET has a combined annual production capacity of 3 billion gallons of bioethanol.
Bioethanol already makes up 10 percent of the U.S. fuel supply. The outdated ban on summertime sales of E15 was lifted in 2019; however, that EPA rule was later overturned in a 2021 federal court decision, once again limiting E15 sales from June to September.
As gas prices continue to skyrocket, E15 can save consumers as much as 50 to 70 cents per gallon. Today’s fix will ensure those fuel savings continue to flow to drivers seeking relief at the pump and improve domestic energy supplies.
“Every driver should have the freedom to choose a fuel that’s better for their wallet, their health, and the environment,” said Broin. “Plant-based bioethanol is the only liquid fuel that can check all those boxes, and it’s produced by Americans, for Americans, right here in the Heartland.”
Consumers have already driven more than 25 billion miles on E15. Moving the nation’s fuel standard from E10 to E15 would offset 6.2 billion gallons of gasoline, cut greenhouse gas emissions by 17 million tons per year, and bring value to American consumers, rural communities, and the U.S. economy.
“Today we are grateful to President Biden for following through on his commitment to deliver lower-carbon, lower-cost fuel options to the American people and for allowing the POET team to share in the celebration of this major win for consumers and for America’s energy security,” said Broin.
— Iowa Corn Growers Association
— POET