Recently, the Washington Post published an editorial that slammed President Biden’s decision to allow for E15 sales this summer, parroting old talking points by oil groups. We immediately submitted a response to the paper, and are posting it here in a continued effort to set the record straight:
A recent Washington Post editorial unfairly slammed President Biden’s decision to allow summertime sales of E15 – a lower-cost, lower-emission 15 percent ethanol fuel blend. Unfortunately, it reflects dismissive and ill-informed attitudes about rural America’s climate contributions, actively undermining a national desire to use all tools in our toolbox to reach effective climate solutions.
Specifically, the editorial leans on a single, widely-debunked study to dismiss the well-established climate benefits of ethanol, which offers a nearly 50 percent carbon advantage over gasoline. It also repeats outdated and incorrect vapor claims about smog, despite the undisputed fact that E15 has lower – not higher – evaporative emissions compared to fuel blends already at the pump.
The authors even downplay the benefits to consumers, who have been saving 10 to 60 cents on E15 at the peak of high gas prices this spring. Instead, the editorial repeats a false claim about food prices, when in reality they are primarily driven by the price of oil. Supporting over 400,000 jobs across the country, the ethanol industry is bolstering rural economies and creating new markets to help drive down our country’s carbon emissions.
Readers deserve the truth, and the facts show that President Biden’s decision was a win for the climate and for working families.
- Emily Skor is the CEO of Growth Energy, the nation’s largest association representing ethanol producers and supporters.