The Renewable Fuels Association is urging California to catch up with the rest of the country and finally allow sales of 15% ethanol fuel (E15).

In a letter to the California Air Resources Board, RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper called on the agency to expeditiously approve the use of cleaner-burning, lower-carbon E15.

“California is woefully—and inexplicably—behind the rest of the nation when it comes to adopting a simple change to liquid fuel regulations that reduces both harmful tailpipe pollutants and GHG emissions from liquid-fueled light-duty vehicles,” Cooper wrote. “While CARB has taken some initial steps toward approval of E15, the process has been impaired by numerous delays, uncertain timelines, and a general lack of emphasis or prioritization from CARB leadership. All of the required testing and analysis on E15 has been completed and submitted to CARB; yet, the agency appears to be purposely ‘slow-walking’ the approval process.”

RFA noted that California is one of only two states in the country that still do not allow the use of E15, the other being Montana, and the state’s failure to approve the fuel has caused unnecessary increases in greenhouse gas emissions and tailpipe pollution linked to smog, as well as higher prices at the pump for California consumers.

Cooper also noted that CARB’s continued failure to allow the use of E15 clearly contradicts the scope and purpose of the waiver California has historically received from the Clean Air Act’s preemption provisions. California has historically received a waiver from the Clean Air Act’s preemption clause because the state’s air pollution regulations have been “at least as protective” as federal standards. RFA argued that “…CARB’s current gasoline regulations are less protective of public health and welfare than the federal standards that allow for E15 consumption in all light-duty vehicles built since 2001.”