As the push for higher ethanol blends accelerates, Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor says some of the most important decisions still ahead rest with the Environmental Protection Agency. She says the way EPA handles small refinery exemptions, reallocation, and long-term certainty for E15 will have major consequences for both retailers and rural communities.
The issue of reallocation has become a central point in the ongoing biofuels conversation. When EPA grants a small refinery exemption, the question becomes whether those lost gallons will be restored elsewhere to keep national blending targets whole. Skor says EPA has signaled its intent to reallocate those gallons moving forward, and that direction is exactly what the industry has long pushed for.
She notes that refiners are pushing back, arguing that the obligations should not be redistributed. That opposition has turned the issue into a political fight, but Skor says maintaining the integrity of national volumes is essential for rural stability. She stresses that rural communities rely on a predictable Renewable Fuel Standard, and reallocation is a key part of keeping those commitments intact.
Another major challenge involves retailer certainty. Skor says retailers cannot plan or invest in new equipment unless they know the rules well in advance. Temporary waivers and seasonal uncertainty have made it difficult for many stores to confidently offer E15, even as interest from drivers continues to grow. She says certainty is the difference between scattered availability and widespread adoption.
Consumer choice also remains at the heart of the industry’s message. Skor says the goal has never been to force anyone to use E15, but instead to make sure drivers have access to an option that can save money, support cleaner fuel, and strengthen the agricultural economy. She points out that expanded E15 use would significantly increase domestic corn demand at a time when producers are looking for steady, reliable markets.
Skor says the opportunity is clear. If EPA finalizes a rule that protects the integrity of the Renewable Fuel Standard, and if lawmakers secure a year-round E15 fix, retailers will have the confidence to invest, infrastructure will expand, and drivers will have consistent access to lower-cost fuel. That combination, she says, would bring meaningful long-term benefits to both consumers and rural communities.
With key decisions still pending, Skor says the industry is urging federal leaders to finish the work and deliver the stability the market has been waiting for. The potential benefits are significant, and she says the moment is right for a lasting solution.
