Peterson Approves Announcement of Year-Round E15 Sales

Press Release

Congressman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) today applauded the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) final rule which extends a Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) waiver for 15 percent ethanol (E15), permitting sale of the renewable fuel through the summer months. The EPA's announcement arrived just ahead of this year's driving season.

"While I am still reviewing the details, it looks like EPA listened to our advice by allowing E15 to be sold year-round. Although this may be caught up in the courts, allowing year-round sales of E15 is a step in the right direction for our rural economy," said Peterson. "I have heard concerns about how the rule treats ethanol plants that sell directly to retailers and will continue to work with EPA on this issue."

The final rule expands the RVP waiver to gasoline blends containing 15% ethanol. This aims to remedy a confusing issue for retail station owners and customers which restricted the sale of E15 between June 1 and September 15. Every year, gas stations were required to relabel pumps to account for the sale restriction. Year-round sales of E15 will help level the playing field for ethanol by reducing regulatory barriers that have stifled investments needed to provide consumers real choices at the pump.

Sweeping proposals regarding the Renewable Identification Number (RIN) market were not included in the final rule. However, it does include a public disclosure requirement for obligated parties when RIN holdings exceed specific limits.

As a co-Chair of the Congressional Biofuels Caucus, Congressman Peterson has led numerous letters urging the EPA to approve E15, and also stop approving waivers to the RFS which have hurt ethanol producers and the farm economy. Last week, Congressman Peterson, Dusty Johnson (R-SD) and the co-chairs of the Congressional Biofuels Caucus introduced H.R. 3006, the Renewable Fuel Standard Integrity Act of 2019, which would stop the EPA from recklessly granting waivers to oil refineries and undermining the market for ethanol.

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