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 a badly needed long-term demand boost for our industry and America’s farmers, who face a number of daunting challenges today,” said Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Geoff Cooper.

The second part of the rule proposed by EPA regarding Renewable Identification Number (RIN) transparency was scaled back from the original proposal and will now require “public disclosure when RIN holdings exceed specified thresholds” while collecting “additional data to improve market transparency and enhance EPA oversight.”

American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings said, “We’re grateful EPA kept the President’s promise to get the rulemaking done on time and we will work to ensure retailers understand their hands are no longer tied by red tape preventing them from offering a lower priced, higher octane E15 fuel to their customers all year starting this summer. For the ethanol industry and farmers, this means greater market access — more ethanol demand over the long term as additional retailers begin offering E15.”