In 1990, Congress specified that fuel with 10% ethanol (E10) could be sold year-round to encourage the use of ethanol-blended fuels, which save consumers money and burn cleaner than fuels without ethanol. However, the waiver Congress granted for E10 predated the introduction of higher ethanol blends like E15. E15 has an even lower Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) than E10, meaning it has lower evaporative emissions than standard E10 fuel. This means that despite having lower emissions than E10, E15 cannot be sold in most states during the summer months, except temporarily through emergency waivers.
Growth Energy’s Ask
Enact legislation to permanently allow year-round sales of E15 (S.593/H.R. 1346, Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act).
As a result of emergency waivers and other EPA regulatory action from 2019-2025, consumers saved upwards of 30 cents per gallon by choosing E15, with some locations offering E15 for over $1 per gallon less than E10.
Passing legislation to allow E15 to be sold year-round would increase availability and save consumers money. If we made E15 the standard fuel in the U.S., we could save $20 billion+ in fuel costs each year.
BIOFUEL BLENDS
- Nationwide adoption of E15 would save consumers $20.6 billion in annual fuel costs, put an additional $36.3 billion in income into the pockets of American families, and generate $66.3 billion for the U.S. GDP.
- Nationwide adoption of E15 will result in an increase in corn demand of about 2.3 billion bushels per year.
- E15 and higher biofuel blends have lower evaporative emissions than standard vehicle fuels.
- Higher biofuel blends are better for air quality, reducing both greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants harmful to human health, like carbon monoxide.
- Ethanol reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 46% compared to gasoline.
- If the United States transitioned from E10 to E15 nationwide, greenhouse gas emissions would fall by 17.62 million tons per year, the equivalent of removing 3.85 million vehicles from the road.
Regulatory &
Legal Milestones
- 1990 Congress imposes RVP limits but grants an RVP waiver for E10
- 2009 E15 waiver filed with EPA
- 2011 EPA approves E15 for 2001 and newer cars
- 2019 EPA extends the RVP waiver to include E15
- 2019 AFPM challenges EPA rule
- 2021 D.C. Circuit ruling reverses EPA’s waiver extension for E15
- 2022-25 EPA allows year-round E15 on an emergency basis
- 2025 State E10 RVP waiver opt-outs take effect in eight Midwestern states.