Boswell Releases Statement on EPA's Announcement on Ethanol Blend Increase

Statement

Congressman Leonard Boswell released this statement after the EPA announced today that it has increased the ethanol blend rate to 15 percent for model year 2007 and newer light-duty motor vehicles, which includes passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and SUVs. The EPA reported further evidence is needed for older model years and other types of vehicles.

"Nearly two years after I first wrote EPA Administrator Jackson, I am pleased that the agency has approved an increased ethanol blend rate of 15 percent which is critical to getting America out of bondage to OPEC and unfriendly nations that take our dollars for oil and use them against us," Boswell said. "Moving forward, I would like the EPA to take a hard look at increasing the blend rate to 20 percent, which is what I and many others have requested, and to consider expanding this blend for older vehicles. This ruling today will affect almost 20 percent of motorists on the road and grow our ethanol industry in Iowa, keep good paying jobs at home, and bring more dollars into our communities. Renewable energy jobs are jobs that will stay right here in the state and cannot be exported."

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