The comment period for EPA’s proposed rule issued in response to petitions by the governors of several Midwest states to remove the 1-pound per square inch Reid vapor pressure waiver for summer conventional gasoline containing 10% ethanol ended yesterday, almost exactly one year to the day since it was requested. EPA is proposing to remove the 1-psi waiver in Illinois, …
What ChatGPT Knows About Ethanol
What does the artificial intelligence chatbot known as ChatGPT know about ethanol? I decided to chat with ChatGPT and find out. One question I asked was “Is ethanol fuel good for the environment?” ChatGPT response: Ethanol fuel can have both positive and negative impacts on the environment, depending on how it is produced and used. On the positive side, ethanol …
EPA Administrator Grilled on Summer E15
Despite repeated questioning from members of the House Agriculture Committee on the topic, EPA Administrator Michael Regan refused to say when, or if, the agency will grant emergency waivers to allow retail sales of E15 this summer. “If I give you an answer today I can guarantee you that somebody’s going to file into court and it’s going to be …
New Analysis Shows E15 Savings for Consumers
The Renewable Fuels Association has released a new analysis this week ahead of Wednesday’s House Agriculture Committee hearing with EPA Administrator Michael Regan that indicates American drivers have saved an average of more than 25 cents per gallon using E15 fuel over E10 since 2022. RFA analyzed more than 3,000 actual pump prices for E15 and E10 submitted by drivers …
E15 Ethanol Blend Now Available in New York
Drivers in New York state now have at least one location where they can purchase E15, the low-cost, lower-carbon fuel blend containing 15 percent ethanol. According to the Renewable Fuels Association, one of the first locations offering E15 in the Empire State is the Dandy Mini Mart and Travel Plaza in Nichols, where drivers recently reported purchasing the fuel for …
Senators Urge EPA to Strengthen RFS
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) led a bipartisan group of 14 colleagues in a letter urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to strengthen the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The senators specifically request EPA strengthen the RFA by maintaining the blending requirements for 2023; denying all pending Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs); eliminating proposed retroactive cuts to the …
Ethanol Report on E15 in Limbo
With only weeks until the summer driving season starts, the future of E15 retail sales for the summer remains in limbo, and the clock is ticking. A plan was already in place by this time last year and at this point the only solution requires immediate action by the Biden administration. In this edition of the Ethanol Report podcast, Renewable …
Ethanol Industry Pans Proposed Emission Standards
Ethanol industry stakeholders panned the Environmental Protection Agency’s new proposed federal vehicle emissions standards released today as the deadline looms for taking action to allow uninterrupted sales of 15% ethanol fuel this summer. “While we certainly share the Biden administration’s goals of increasing vehicle efficiency and reducing carbon emissions from transportation, we strongly disagree with policy approaches that arbitrarily pick …
With E15 in Limbo, Biden Backs EVs
It was one year ago today that President Joe Biden visited an Iowa ethanol plant to announce an emergency waiver to allow 15% ethanol fuel to be sold across the United States during the summer months. “(W)ith this waiver, on June 1, you’re not going to show up at your local gas station and see a bag over the pump …
RFA and Propel Promote E85 in California
The Renewable Fuels Association held an event this week in Sacramento with Propel Fuels spotlighting the importance of the lower-carbon E85 Flex Fuel blend, which hit a record 103.5 million gallons sold in the state last year. “Gas prices are on the rise again in California, and drivers are seeking out options at the pump that are both more affordable …