Tell Congress We Need an E15 Emergency Waiver Today

Amidst inflation and soaring gas prices, higher blends of biofuels like E15 have saved American drivers up to nearly $1 per gallon at the pump – all while reducing emissions and supporting economic growth across rural America. Unfortunately, these cost savings could vanish from many markets on June 1, 2023, due to outdated federal restrictions on summer sales of higher ethanol blends.

Join us in calling on lawmakers to press the Biden administration for action on an emergency waiver for E15 ahead of the start of summer driving season.

E15 Savings in Action

E15 (often branded UNL 88 or Regular 88) and higher blends like E85 (made with 85% ethanol) cost less than regular gasoline, but don’t take our word for it. See the savings for yourself:

A Better Value at the Pump

E15 is a 15 percent ethanol blended fuel that can be found at nearly 3,000 gas stations across the country. E15 helps American families save money at the pump – in some instances costing almost a dollar per gallon less than other fuel options. A 2022 study found that a nationwide standard for E15 would:

• Save consumers $20.6 billion in annual fuel costs,
• Put an additional $36.3 billion in income into the pockets of American households,
• Support an additional 188,000 jobs, and
• Generate $66.3 billion for the U.S. GDP.

A Better Deal for the Environment

Leveraging higher blends of renewable fuel like ethanol can make an immediate positive impact on the environment. Using more of this earth-kind fuel is critical to reaching ambitious climate goals to lower emissions and decrease air pollution. By itself, ethanol reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 46% compared to regular gasoline. A simple change to nationwide E15 would reduce CO2 emissions by more than 17.62 million tons per year — the equivalent of taking 3.85 million cars off the road.

A 2022 study from University of California – Riverside found that shifting from E10 to E15 reduces emissions, illustrating the vital role that higher ethanol blends play in protecting our air, our climate, and our health.

A Better Fuel for Your Engine

Ethanol is a renewable, earth-friendly biofuel that burns cleaner and cooler than gasoline, which is good for our environment and our cars’ engines.

Today, ethanol can be found everywhere you buy gasoline – 98 percent of the fuel sold in the U.S. contains at least 10 percent ethanol. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved E15 fuel for all light-duty vehicles model year 2001 and newer. That’s more than 96 percent of the vehicles on the road today or more than 245 million cars or trucks, accounting for 98 percent of all vehicle miles traveled.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Oak Ridge Laboratory data  “showed no statistically significant loss of vehicle performance (emissions, fuel economy, and maintenance issues) attributable to the use of E15 fuel compared to straight gasoline.” Additionally, studies from the University of California, Riverside have shown that fuel economy with E15 could rise by upwards of 6% taking realistic driving conditions into account, and under worst case scenario decrease by 1%.

On the road, American drivers have logged over 40 billion miles driven on E15. On the NASCAR track, racecar drivers have surpassed 20 million miles driven using E15, a testament to E15’s performance in the toughest of conditions.

E15 Policy Priorities

Among Growth Energy’s 2023 policy priorities is to expand access to lower-carbon, lower-cost higher blends of ethanol at the pump at home and abroad by:

• Restoring unrestricted access to E15 year-round nationwide.
• Working with U.S. Department of Agriculture to swiftly implement and distribute the $500 million for biofuels infrastructure included the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
• Clarifying rules around the use of existing fuel storage and dispensing equipment for E15.
• Finalizing EPA’s proposal to simplify onerous labeling requirements at fuel pumps and broaden use of existing underground storage tanks.
• Breaking down trade barriers to low-carbon ethanol in markets like Brazil, India, and China.
• Instituting a nationwide octane standard.

Current Federal Legislation 

Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act

Introduced by Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) to ensure the continued availability of low-carbon fifteen percent ethanol fuel blends (E15) in all fuel markets year-round. This legislation would permanently extend the 1.0 psi summertime Reid vapor pressure (RVP) waiver to ethanol blends beyond E10, thus eliminating any seasonal restrictions on sales.

Next Generation Fuels Act

in March 2023, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) introduced the Next Generation Fuels Act, a bill that would allow for the sale of fuels with greater octane levels, thereby increasing the amount of ethanol that can be used in the fuel supply, and, in turn, lowering prices at the pump for consumers. The bipartisan legislation is cosponsored by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.).

What They Are Saying: Members of Congress Champion Higher Blends of Biofuels to Combat Gas Prices  

E15 Waiver in the States and EPA’s Response

In 2022, a coalition of Midwest states sent a letter to EPA Administrator Regan calling for parity between E10 and E15 fuels through Section 211(h)(5) of the Clean Air Act. Combined, the states account for 14.79% of total gasoline demand in the U.S. and are home to 1,494 of the nation’s E15 retail sites

• Illinois (3.17% of U.S. gasoline demand, 155 E15 retailer sites)
• Wisconsin (1.85% of U.S. gasoline demand, 359 retailer sites)
• Minnesota (1.75% of U.S. gasoline demand, 388 retailer sites)
• Iowa (1.02% of U.S. gasoline demand, 289 retailer sites)
• Nebraska (0.66% of U.S. gasoline demand, 122 retailer sites)
• Ohio (3.69% of U.S. gasoline demand, 87 retailer sites)
• South Dakota (0.36% of U.S. gasoline demand, 24 retailer sites)
• Missouri (2.29% of U.S. gasoline demand, 70 retailer sites)

In March 2023, EPA responded to the waiver request with its own proposal that granted the governors’ request to sell E15 year-round. Unfortunately, the EPA’s proposal wouldn’t take effect until 2024, meaning drivers would lose access to E15 starting on June 1, 2023, unless EPA grants an emergency waiver for the coming driving season. Take action now to demand Congress press the EPA on providing an emergency waiver to keep E15 available this summer.

Want to Learn More? 

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