MCGA welcomes summertime E15 announcement
The Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) is grateful to the Biden administration for today’s announcement that it will use existing emergency authority to allow E15 to continue being sold this summer.
Also known as Unleaded 88, E15 is a homegrown fuel that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and tailpipe pollution, lowers costs at the pump and increases American energy independence. Restrictions on summertime E15 sales were re-imposed following a court decision initiated by Big Oil and its allies. They had nothing to do with the quality, safety and environmental benefits of E15 as a fuel.
“We thank the Biden administration for taking this common-sense step and are grateful for the many elected officials who have advocated for a solution for the 2022 driving season,” MCGA President Bryan Biegler said in a statement. Among the elected officials whom Biegler thanked were Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith and U.S. Reps. Angie Craig, Tom Emmer and Michelle Fischbach.
“We look forward to continuing to work with state and federal officials to secure a long-term fix to this illogical regulation,” Biegler added, noting that E15 lowers tailpipe pollution linked to cancer, heart disease and other health concerns.
The news of uninterrupted Unleaded 88 sales for 2022 is especially welcome in Minnesota, which leads the nation in the number of retail fuel locations – over 410 – offering the lower-cost, lower-carbon fuel blend. Minnesota is set to add additional retail locations following the close of a request for proposals under the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Biofuel Infrastructure grant program. Minnesota’s corn farmers have helped to ensure record breaking sales of Unleaded 88 by providing infrastructure grant dollars and consumer marketing efforts through the Better Fuel Initiative.
[More: Find a station near you that offers Unleaded 88]
In a statement, National Corn Growers Association President Chris Edgington also praised the repeal of the restrictions.
“Corn growers thank President Biden for ensuring drivers continue to have access to a lower-cost fuel choice and for acknowledging how renewable ethanol helps reduce prices, lower emissions and improve our nation’s energy security,” Edgington said. “Farmers are proud to contribute to cleaner, less expensive fuel choices.”
According to NCGA, ethanol was priced an average of 80 cents less per gallon than unblended gasoline at wholesale through March. Drivers currently save up to 20 cents or more per gallon where E15 is available.
Ethanol adds billions of gallons to the U.S. fuel supply every year, lowering demand for high-cost oil while increasing total fuel available to consumers, NCGA noted. Corn farmers’ increased productivity and efficiency has resulted in higher yields, using fewer resources to meet food, feed and fuel needs to help keep prices down.
With a host of factors driving up gas prices, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, NCGA and farmer-leaders across the country asked the president to extend the use of E15 to hold down prices at the pump. Farmers also asked their members of Congress to support continued availability of E15, sending them thousands of messages in recent weeks and backing bipartisan Senate and House advocacy for the action announced today. Farmers stand ready to continue working with the Biden administration and Congress on energy and environmental solutions that ethanol provides, Edgington said.
To learn more, visit the NCGA website.
