Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan appeared before the Environment and Public Works Committee Wednesday to talk about the agency’s budget request, but some senators wanted to know what he was going to do and when he was going to do it to make E15 (15% ethanol fuel) available in the summer months this year.

Both Sens. Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) pressed Regan on the issue, since without any administrative action sales will cease starting June 1 until September 15. “Are you going to allow E15 to be sold this summer as it has over the past three summers?” asked Ernst. “We are currently evaluating what flexibilities we have around E15. This is a conversation that I and Secretary Vilsack have been having quite a bit,” said Regan.

“I do believe E15 can provide a less expensive option based on the data that we’ve seen as of late,” Regan responded to Sen. Duckworth when she asked about using our “readily available strategic reserve of ethanol” to help lower record high gas prices as a result of the conflict in Ukraine.

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Senators question EPA admin Regan (3:14)