Congress Must Unleash E15 Fuel to Help Address Climate Change

by Cal Dalton (United Wisconsin Grain Producers/Real Clear Energy) Most people can agree that climate change is happening and that we need to take action. While there are disagreements about how to respond, the facts are clear – we must reduce our greenhouse gas emissions as much as possible, as soon as possible, to protect our planet for future generations. It’s a challenge that requires an all-of-the-above strategy, and there is a tool at our disposal that we have yet to fully embrace: E15 gasoline.

The name “E15” refers to the amount of ethanol blended with gasoline. It’s just like the most commonly used fuel, E10, but it has 15% ethanol instead of just 10. It works just like E10, but it allows drivers to use more renewable fuel and less traditional gasoline and helps us reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. Instead of drilling for more oil or importing oil from countries with weak environmental standards, we can use more corn, a crop that absorbs carbon dioxide as it grows. The Department of Energy found that “on a life cycle analysis basis, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are reduced on average by 40% with corn-based ethanol.”

Using more E15 gasoline is a great way we can help tackle climate change, but unfortunately, an outdated law prevents E15 from being sold nationwide year-round. In many parts of the country, drivers can’t buy E15 during the summer months, even though E10 is very similar and can be sold nationwide year-round. It’s time for Congress to fix that.

Not only is E15 better for the environment, it’s also cheaper. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), E15 is about 25 cents per gallon cheaper than E10. As we head into the summer months when gas prices typically go up, it makes sense to allow drivers to fill up with cheaper E15 fuel.

Many members of Congress like Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) have built a strong record of passing legislation to protect our environment and address climate change. Carper played a critical role in passing the Inflation Reduction Act, which included historic investments in a wide range of initiatives to address climate change. The law is already helping us use less traditional gasoline and making it easier for people to switch to electric vehicles, but it failed to address E15 fuel.

Fortunately, there is a bill awaiting consideration in the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works that would allow the year-round sale of E15 gasoline nationwide. As chairman of the committee, Senator Carper has the power to hold a vote on the bill and move us one step closer to using less fossil fuels.

Allowing the year-round nationwide sale of E15 is a commonsense step we can take now to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and address climate change. Senator Carper can build on his record of leadership in environmental protection by advancing legislation to make E15 available all year. As we confront climate change, we can’t afford to have restrictions on an important tool like E15. I hope Senator Carper will do the right thing and solve this issue for the sake of our planet. READ MORE

Excerpt from Brownfield Ag News: Some members of the biofuels industry say Congress needs to move forward on a permanent fix for year-round E15 sales.

Geoff Cooper is the president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association. “We keep looking for any and every opportunity to advance E15 legislation,” Cooper said. “Of course, it’s been introduced in both chambers and it’s got bipartisan support.”

But Republican U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa tells Brownfield E15 legislation has stalled. “Ernst and I, and particularly Klobuchar for the Democrats, are still pushing to get that job done,” Grassley said. “But I don’t think we’ve had any answers to our requests.”

Cooper says an E15 fix could be attached to other legislation, like appropriations, that must pass before the end of the year. “It’s been frustrating because there’s just a few people that continue to stand in the way of really getting something moving here on E15,” Cooper said.

Earlier this year, the U.S. EPA issued an emergency waiver that allowed the fuel blends to be sold during the 2024 summer driving season. READ MORE