Growth Energy is marking the 5th Anniversary of the Green Jobs Waiver – the waiver that brought the choice of E15 to consumers. The waiver was filed on March 6, 2009 with the Environmental Protection Agency in an effort to get higher ethanol blends approved for commercial use.

“We recognized five years ago that increased blends, such as E15 would be necessary to reduce our dangerous dependence on foreign oil and create jobs right here at home all while providing consumers with a choice and savings at the pump,” said Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy about the anniversary. “Additionally, for the biofuels industry to grow, higher blends in the commercial marketplace are necessary to foster development and innovation in next generation fuels.

Five years later, noted Buis, they consider their efforts to be successful even though challenges from Big Oil and special interests continue to arise. “We have faced every possible legal, regulatory and PR hurdle our opponents could throw at us, but our industry and members have been resilient,” said Buis.

Today, E15 can be found in 14 states and each week additional retailers are offering the fuel blend. Buis said retailers are beginning to recognize the economic benefits of offering a “less expensive, home-grown, high performance fuel. All of NASCAR runs on E15 and combined, race car drivers have driven more than 5 million miles on the ethanol blend.

Buis concluded, “E15 is the most tested fuel in our nation’s history. More than six million miles of testing on 86 vehicles without any engine problems or durability issues. One thing is clear; E15 is a safe, reliable fuel that more and more Americans are choosing.”