MCGA applauds step toward permanent year-round E15
Today, Governor Tim Walz joined seven other Midwestern Governors in a formal request to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to officially exercise their authority to ensure E15 can be sold year-round beginning June 1, 2023. Access to higher blends of ethanol help to save consumers money at the pump, reduce carbon emissions and lower tailpipe pollution linked to cancer, heart disease and other health concerns. E15, also known as Unleaded 88, is a fuel blended with 15% ethanol and is typically priced 3 cents to 20 cents a gallon less than standard, unleaded gasoline with a 10% ethanol blend.
“The Minnesota Corn Growers Association is extremely appreciative of Governor Walz’s continued efforts to ensure year-round consumer access to E15. We thank Governor Walz for working with a bi-partisan group of Midwestern governors to exercise their authority under the Clean Air Act to ensure E15 can be sold year-round. Minnesota leads the nation in the number of fuel retailers offering higher ethanol blends to consumers and this action will help to ensure uninterrupted market access beginning June 1, 2023,” noted President Bryan Biegler, Minnesota Corn Growers Association.
Two weeks ago, President Biden announced his intention to issue an emergency waiver for the 2022 driving season, which helps to solve the more immediate challenge of year-round access for 2022. Today’s action by the Midwest governors starts the process at EPA to ensure a permanent fix for year-round access is in place for the 2023 driving season.
Under the Clean Air Act, governors have the authority to ask EPA to follow the same summer regulations for E10 and E15. Joining Minnesota in this request to EPA are the governors of Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. These eight states combined account for over 10 percent of total U.S. gasoline use.
Although these eight governors are leading the way on this request, other states can join this effort as EPA begins the work of promulgating this regulation.
MCGA remains supportive of a federal legislative fix to ensure year-round access to Unleaded 88 and appreciates the efforts of Minnesota’s federal delegation to advocate for a legislative solution. We hope that by the Midwestern governors moving forward today on this regulatory option, pressure continues to build for a legislative solution, but having a regulatory pathway in process ensures a solution can be place for the 2023 driving season.
