Senators Lobby Pruitt for E15 Change

  • February 20, 2017

E15

On the very day he was confirmed then sworn into office as Administrator of the EPA, former Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt received his first official communication from some U.S. Senators requesting help in ending an EPA regulation.

Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), Roy Blunt (R-Missouri), Pat Roberts (R-Kansas) and John Thune (R-South Dakota) want him to eliminate what they call “a nonsensical regulation that makes it more difficult to sell gasoline with ethanol content above ten percent during the summer months.”

In a letter mailed to Pruitt on Friday, the Senators, representing states with significant corn production, targeted the Clean Air Act which limits the volatility of gasoline between June 1 and September 15.

“As a result, sales of E15 in most of the country are severely restricted between June 1 and September 15—the peak summer driving season,” explained the Five. They pointed out that the volatility of E15 and other higher blends is actually lower than E10.

“Unfortunately, without the waiver being extended, this archaic policy prevents E15 from enjoying the same treatment year round—-ultimately increasing costs for consumers.”

 

 

 

 

WASHINGTON — Today, the Senate approved Scott Pruitt to be the next administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency by a 52 to 46 vote. Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen had the following statement:

“The Renewable Fuels Association congratulates Scott Pruitt on Senate confirmation to become the next EPA administrator. As Mr. Pruitt said during his confirmation hearing last month, ‘To honor the intent and the expression of the Renewable Fuel Standard statute is very, very important.’ We could not agree more. We look forward to working with Mr. Pruitt to ensure the RFS remains on track with strong, annual obligations that follow congressional intent. While the RFS remains our priority, we will also continue advocating for the removal of unnecessary volatility restrictions that have discouraged market acceptance of higher level ethanol blends like E15. Ethanol is the lowest cost, cleanest and highest octane source in the world. We encourage Mr. Pruitt to work with us to ensure consumers have more choices at the pump.”
###

Jerry Bohnen