By statute, it was only supposed to take 60 days for the EPA to decide on that bipartisan petition that 8 midwestern governors submitted asking for the EPA to allow them to use a provision in the Clean Air Act that would allow states to sell E15 all year round.
But those 60 days turned into 600. A delay for which the EPA still hasn’t been held accountable. Not only was that a huge delay, but we are also seeing even further delays. Even though the EPA approved the request, they won’t let the states implement the provision until 2025. When there’s absolutely no reason we couldn’t start it by the end of the day today. The states that petitioned are more than ready.
Even though we have gotten that decision, this doesn’t mean that the fight for year-round sales of E15 is over. There are still forty-two more states that don’t have the option to do this. At least, not yet. This means another band-aid must be put on the ethanol industry, and we need a Presidential waiver to allow the sales in the summer. If we have a President who is willing to issue temporary waivers, why won’t the same President use his administration to get it done permanently?
To that point, Iowa Senator Joni Ernst would like to see former Iowa Governor, biofuels supporter, and current U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack using his position in the cabinet to put more emphasis on the environmental benefits of E15, and why it is not a mandate that people have to buy it, it’s just giving them the option to buy it if they want to. Ernst says that while Secretary Vilsack and USDA are not in control of Ethanol standards, he has the ear of the President and EPA Administrator Regan.
Ernst also admits that there is a political game to play in any administration, and it has been more than evident that President Biden’s Administration is hoisting the EV banner high and doesn’t want to put forth an image that they are willing to negotiate on it. Ernst says that Secretary Vilsack probably is facing pressure to “toe the line” on the EV message. Ernst also hints at the belief that many of the hardcore environmentalists won’t stop their attack on agriculture with ethanol and biofuels.
Those in the know in the Biden Administration are certain that President Biden will allow for the summertime E15 sales with yet another emergency waiver. A waiver that should not be needed, and for a few brief months wasn’t needed when we had year-round E15 sales nationwide.
