EPA Chief Jackson’s Comments Couldn’t Come at a Better Time

WASHINGTON, DC – Growth Energy welcomed the testimony of EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson today that laid out a timeframe of “the next few months” for introduction of new rules for labeling pumps that will carry E15, following EPA approval of Growth Energy’s Green Jobs Waiver.

“I’d like to thank Administrator Jackson and her team at EPA for moving this as rapidly as possible. There’s no better time than now to move E15 into the market, considering the alternative of continuing to see high oil prices and high gas prices. Lifting the regulatory barriers preventing higher blends of U.S.- made ethanol from getting into the pump would start to push gas prices down right away,” said Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis.

Under the Growth Energy Green Jobs Waiver, the EPA has approved E15 for all vehicles built in the last decade, including model years 2001 and newer. According to Jackson’s testimony before the House Agriculture Committee today, EPA is projecting that by 2014, E15 could be in use in more than 187.3 million vehicles, or 85 percent of the fuels market.

“By going to E15, we can create jobs here in the U.S. that cannot be outsourced. And we can reduce our dependence on oil from parts of the world that are either politically unstable, or outright hostile to U.S. interests. At a time when oil executives are talking about rationing, and oil prices are expected to remain above $100 a barrel, now is the time to remove these artificial barriers that prevent the only commercially-viable alternative to oil from entering the market,” Buis said.


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About Growth Energy
Growth Energy is a group committed to the promise of agriculture and growing America’s economy through cleaner, greener energy. Growth Energy members recognize America needs a new ethanol approach. Through smart policy reform and a proactive grassroots campaign, Growth energy promotes reducing greenhouse gas emissions, expanding the use of ethanol in gasoline, decreasing our dependence on foreign oil, and creating American jobs at home. More information can be found at GrowthEnergy.org.