The grand opening of the Elite Octane ethanol plant in Atlantic, Iowa got an extra celebratory boost on Friday with the announcement that E15 can now be sold year round. Guest speakers including Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds welcomed the news just hours after it was announced. “Increased demand for E85 and E15 means that we …
E15 Retailer Pleased with EPA Rule
A fuel retailer who has been on the front lines of getting approval for E15 to be sold year round is one of over 1000 station owners around the country who did not have to re-label pumps over the weekend this year. “For the first time in six years that I’ve been handling the fuels, I can put an octane …
EPA Final Rule Details
EPA Assistant Administrator Bill Wehrum provided details to reporters Friday morning of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final rule related to retail sales of 15% ethanol blended fuel and renewable identification number (RIN) transparency. EPA finalized regulatory changes to allow gasoline blended with up to 15 percent ethanol (E15) to take advantage of the 1-psi Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) waiver …
Ethanol Industry Applauds Final Rule Allowing Year-Round E15
Ethanol industry stakeholders are thrilled with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final rule allowing retailers to sell gasoline containing 15% ethanol (E15) year-round. “E15 already has a proven track record for saving drivers money at the pump and reducing emissions, and today’s action will ensure that more Americans are able to enjoy those benefits. Year-round E15 will also provide …
Ethanol Days of Summer Contest is Back
For the third year in a row, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is sponsoring the “Ethanol Days of Summer” contest, which encourages consumers to submit pump prices for flex fuels like E85 and ethanol blends like E15 to E85prices.com web site, which enters them in a random daily drawing for a $50 fuel gift card. To enter, contest participants create …
Trump Talks E15 During Trade Announcement
President Donald Trump welcomed representatives from a number of agricultural organizations to the White House Thursday to talk about the $16 billion in trade assistance announced by the administration. “I have directed Secretary Perdue to provide $16 billion in assistance to America’s farmers and ranchers. It all comes from China. We’ll be taking in, over a period of time, hundreds …
New Mexico Welcomes E15
New Mexico has become the 31st state to add E15 at the pump for consumers. According to Growth Energy, a Murphy USA station in Albuquerque is now one of nearly 1,800 locations nationwide to offer E15, also known as Unleaded 88. Growth Energy works with leading retailers including Casey’s, Cumberland Farms, Family Express, Holiday, Kum & Go, Kwik Trip, Minnoco, …
NFU Concerned E15 Waiver Will Impact Higher Blends
National Farmers Union (NFU) is concerned EPA’s proposed rule allowing year-round use of E15 gasoline will make it harder for retailers to sell higher level blends of ethanol. In a letter to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler, NFU President Roger Johnson urged EPA to rewrite a provision contained within the rule that could amount to a cap on ethanol. It is …
Consumers Surpass 8 Billion Miles on E15
Consumers have driven more than 8 billion miles now on E15, also known as Unleaded 88, according to Growth Energy, which credits the milestone to rapid retail adoption and more terminal availability of the fuel across the nation. “Supply of E15 into the fuel marketplace is a crucial step in further expansion, and our success with Prime the Pump has …
EPA Hearing Witnesses Stress Problem of SREs
Small refinery exemptions were not the topic of an EPA hearing Friday in Michigan, but many witnesses used precious seconds of their allotted three minutes to comment on how they are impacting an already stressed ethanol industry. “While RFS small refinery exemptions (SREs) are not the explicit subject of this rulemaking or today’s hearing, we feel compelled to remind EPA …