WASHINGTON — Editor’s Note: The following statements have been released following the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed rule to allow year-round sales of E15.
Peterson Cautiously Optimistic on new EPA rule on E15
WASHINGTON — House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson of Minnesota released the following statement in response to the EPA’s proposed rule to allow E15 waiver and to improve RIN market transparency:
“I applaud the EPA’s release of this proposed rule. It is long overdue and the result of much hard work on the part of U.S. farmers, the ethanol industry, and the Congressional Biofuels Caucus.
The efforts to bring transparency to the RIN system are needed, but I’m afraid that connecting these two issues in one rule is going to bog down moving forward on both. This would affect the E15 timeline and I would want to make sure it’s done by summer driving season.
And while I applaud the efforts in this rulemaking, it doesn’t lessen the damage caused by the Administration’s misuse of the small refinery exemption.
I encourage the Administration to consider all options to advance the viability of our domestic biofuels industry, including a more efficient pathway process at EPA and ensuring access for biofuels in export markets.”
The EPA announcement follows years of advocacy work to allow E15 to be sold year-round by the biofuels industry, agriculture producers, and Congressional Members who support renewable fuels. The EPA regulates the Reid vapor pressure (RVP) of gasoline sold at retail stations between June 1 and September 15. During this timeframe, gasoline blends with 15% ethanol are not allowed to be sold at retail stations, causing inconsistent sales of E15. Long overdue, the EPA is beginning to remedy this issue with today’s proposed rule.
The agency has history of granting so-called small refinery exemptions to profitable refineries. These waivers allow refineries to avoid their blending requirements under the RFS, removing renewable fuel gallons from the marketplace. Since 2017, the EPA granted 48 waivers which allowed refineries to avoid blending 2.25 billion gallons of ethanol into the marketplace. Before major changes are proposed to the RIN marketplace, the EPA should address the overuse of these waivers.
–House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson
American Farm Bureau Supports Year-Round E15 Proposal
WASHINGTON — American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall: “The Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed rule is one step closer to fulfilling the administration’s promise to support year-round E15 sales. As our country has worked to break our dependence on foreign oil, our farmers have played a major role in helping us become more energy independent. After years of declining farm income, opening up markets to additional fuel choices will help create new demand that farmers desperately need. We look forward to working with EPA to successfully implement year-round E15 sales.”
–American Farm Bureau Federation
NFU Applauds Release of E15 Waiver Proposal
Farmers Union Stands Ready to See Waiver Through, Work to Expand Use of E30
WASHINGTON — In a move to expand use of higher level blends of ethanol, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a proposed rule to allow the year-round sale of E15, or gasoline blended with 15 percent ethanol. The timing of the proposed rule will hopefully allow EPA to issue a final rule by June 1, the start of the summer driving season. Sales of E15 gasoline are currently prohibited during the summer in many states.
National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson issued the following statement in response to the release of the proposed rule:
“The move to expanded use of higher level blends of ethanol is absolutely vital at this moment in time. More E15 use means we can begin to dig into our massive oversupply of corn, lifting prices ever so slightly for all commodities. Farmers Union applauds EPA for releasing this proposed rule, and we look forward to helping the agency get this in effect by summertime.
“Moving forward, we need to build on this achievement by expanding use of E30 gasoline. The result would be a necessary boon for farm families stuck with low prices in a struggling farm economy and rural communities that are in need of economic rejuvenation. It would also lead to cheaper gasoline prices, better performing engines, and significant climate gains for consumers. NFU urges federal policymakers to remove barriers to higher level blends of ethanol and work to encourage the continued growth of the American biofuels industry.”
–National Farmers Union
NCGA Statement on E15 Proposed Rule
WASHINGTON — National Corn Growers Association President Lynn Chrisp made the below statement following the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) release of a proposed rule to allow for year-round sales of E15.
“Today’s proposed rule is great progress to getting the rulemaking completed by the start of the summer driving season, June 1. NCGA appreciates EPA’s efforts to meet this deadline and we look forward to fully reviewing the content of the proposed rule. We will be providing comments to EPA and urging our membership to provide input during the comment process as well.
“Allowing year-round sales of higher blends of ethanol not only grows a domestic market for farmers, but E15 gives consumers more choice at the pump, a lower price option and greater environmental benefits from a cleaner fuel. It’s time to remove the barrier to all of these benefits.”
About the National Corn Growers Association
Founded in 1957, the National Corn Growers Association represents nearly 40,000 dues-paying corn farmers nationwide and the interests of more than 300,000 growers who contribute through corn checkoff programs in their states. NCGA and its 50 affiliated state associations and checkoff organizations work together to create and increase opportunities for their members and their industry.
–National Corn Growers Association
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