Last month’s concession letter to ethanol state senators from EPA administrator Scott Pruitt is providing some hope that 15% ethanol might soon be treated the same as E10 when it comes to Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP), which would allow the fuel to be sold year round in all parts of the country.
“We believe they have the statutory authority today to extend RVP relief to E15,” said American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) executive vice president Brian Jennings during an interview at the NAFB convention. “Now we have an administrator who has an interest in the topic himself.”
Pruitt’s letter to the lawmakers concerned that EPA was looking at changing the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) to the detriment of biofuels, said that the agency will “actively explore” whether it has the legal authority to approve year-round access to E15. The ethanol industry has been trying to get the rule glitch fixed since E15 was first approved for use, either by legislation or regulation. “I’m sort of at the point now that I just want it to get done,” said Jennings.
Listen to the interview with Jennings here: Interview with Brian Jennings, ACE
