Ethanol Blog: Lawmakers, Retailers Make Last-Minute Push for E15 Summer Waiver

by Todd Neeley (DTN Progressive Farmer) Letters continue to fill the mailbox at the White House from federal lawmakers, ethanol industry officials and fuel retailers pressing the Biden administration to grant a waiver to allow the continued sale of E15 this summer.

The clock is ticking as the start of the summer driving season is about six weeks away.

On Thursday, a bipartisan group of U.S. senators sent a letter to Biden making the case that the economic factors that led to the EPA granting an E15 waiver last spring have not changed.

"Unfortunately, this underlying justification remains applicable as Russia's war of aggression continues to weigh on global energy and security," the senators wrote. "Further, Iran-backed aggression in the Middle East, specifically Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, presents new threats to global energy markets and our energy security."

The letter is signed by Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin; Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio; Kevin Cramer, R-North Dakota; Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill.; Joni Ernst, R-Iowa; Deb Fischer, R-Nebraska; Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa; Josh Hawley, R-Missouri; John Hoeven, R-North Dakota; Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota; Roger Marshall, R-Kansas; Jerry Moran, R-Kansas; Gary Peters, D-Michigan; Pete Ricketts, R-Nebraska; Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota; Tina Smith, D-Minnesota; Debbie Stabenow, D-Michigan; and J.D. Vance, R-Ohio.

"Furthermore, temporary action is again required in light of the EPA's announcement to postpone until 2025 the implementation of eight state petitions to sell E15 year-round," the letter said.

"As you know, the consideration of state action has led to a historic agreement between liquid fuel stakeholders in support of securing a permanent legislative solution to allow nationwide, year-round E15 sales, while respecting each state's authority to opt-out of such a program. Taking temporary action now will continue the uninterrupted sale of E15 for what would be the sixth-consecutive year -- a major win for consumer choice and emissions reductions."

Also on Thursday, a group of 15 Iowa fuel retailers sent a letter to Biden asking for an E15 waiver.

"Daily, our customers are feeling the brunt of the fuel market and continue to see gasoline prices increase at the pump," the retailers said. "Iowans will not be able to find the needed relief in their pocketbooks without the ability to fill-up their family vehicle with E15."

The retailers include Maverick/Kum and Go; Growmark FS; New Century FS; New Cooperative; Five Star Cooperative; Sundstop LLC; Zubs Shop; Cresco Fast Stop; Cubby's; RocStop; RAM Inc.; The Corner Store; Linn Coop Oil Co.; Thomson's Filling Station; and Farmers Mutual Town and Country.

"Now more than ever, we want to keep selling E15, and our customers want to keep buying E15 to save money," the retailers said.

"While we support the solution for 2025 and beyond, we are encouraging the administration to use its waiver authority to permit the sale of E15 fuel for the 2024 summer driving season and extend the Reid vapor pressure waiver from June 1 through Sept. 15." READ MORE

Excerpt from Renewable Fuels Association: The Renewable Fuels Association today thanked 46 members of the House and Senate who separately sent letters to President Biden urging his administration to allow the lower-cost E15 fuel blend to be sold through the summer months. Without an emergency waiver in place soon, E15 won’t be available to drivers beginning June 1.

In the Senate, whips John Thune (R-SD) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) led an effort that included 18 other colleagues in a letter sent today. On the House side, 26 members, led by Reps. Angie Craig (D-MN), Adrian Smith (R-NE), Mark Pocan (D-WI) and Dusty Johnson (R-SD), also wrote the president.

“We thank these lawmakers, working across the aisle in both the House and Senate, for calling on the Biden administration to quickly take action to allow the nationwide sale of E15 through the coming summer,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “These senators and representatives understand that, with current fuel supplies lower than the last two summer driving seasons and the market pressures of ongoing geopolitical conflicts, it is imperative that consumers have access to this American-made supply of lower-cost, cleaner fuel.”

On April 3, nearly 1,000 farmers, ethanol industry workers and other supporters from across the country sent a letter to President Biden also urging immediate action on E15. In an RFA blog post earlier this month, Chief Economist Scott Richman estimated that U.S. sales of the E15 fuel blend hit a record 1.11 billion gallons in 2023. In late March, RFA and allies sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency, calling on Administrator Michael Regan to act swiftly on an emergency waiver for E15 sales.

In February of this year, EPA granted a petition from eight Midwest governors to allow year-round sales of E15. However, the petition only applies to those eight states and does not go into effect until 2025, creating uncertainty about the status of E15 for the summer of 2024.

Photo caption: This image, taken by RFA staff today (April 11, 2024) at a Kwik Star in Sioux Falls, S.D., shows current price savings with E15. These savings will be lost come June 1, unless the Biden administration moves fast on a summertime waiver for the lower-cost, lower-carbon blend.