Sioux Falls, SD - March 12, 2019 – The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings issued the following statement after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its proposed rulemaking to allow the sale of E15 year-round, as well as its reform proposals to the Renewable Identification Number (RIN) credit market:
“We’re pleased EPA has finally publicized its proposal to allow retailers to offer E15 to their customers year-round.
"With just 80 days to go until the start of the 2019 summer driving season, we will urge stakeholders to provide public comment to EPA, so a legally-defensible rule can be in place by June 1.
"Time is of the essence, particularly since EPA insists on saddling the E15 rulemaking with controversial RIN reforms that will need to be carefully reviewed to ensure they don’t undermine ethanol demand.
“Without a final rule in place by June 1, this year would mark the eighth time, since EPA originally approved a waiver for E15, that fuel marketers in many parts of the country have had to prohibit their customers from purchasing a lower-cost, higher-quality fuel option at the pump during the busy summer driving months.
“E15 has lower evaporative emissions than E10 and straight gasoline and has been approved by EPA for use in 2001 and newer vehicles, 90 percent of the cars on the road today.
"Access to E15 all year will increase the fuel’s availability, reduce refiner RIN costs, and open much-needed market access for surplus corn.
“As pleased as we are with this important step in the process, the upside potential of E15 year-round will be blunted unless and until EPA returns sanity to the way it handles Small Refinery Exemptions under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).
"EPA needs to restore the 2.25 billion gallons of biofuel blending obligations waived for large, profitable refineries.”
For more information, please contact Katie Fletcher at 605-306-6107.