Biden Administration Grants Nationwide E15 Summer Sales Waiver for 2024

No More E15 Uncertainty for Eight Midwest States with Permanent E15 Fix in Place for 2025

Contact: Emma Koehler
515-252-6249

JOHNSTON, IA - Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will issue emergency waivers to permit the nationwide sale of E15 for the 2024 summer driving season. Consumers and retailers in Iowa now have certainty both for this summer, and going forward as Iowa was one of eight Midwest states receiving approval for their request to allow year-round sales of E15 on a permanent basis. That approval was granted in February of 2024 but would not become effective until the summer of 2025. Today's action removes the last uncertainty about E15 availability in the 8 Midwest states.

"On behalf of Iowa motorists, we thank the Biden Administration for granting the emergency E15 relief for this summer," said Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Executive Director Monte Shaw. "IRFA members are so proud of all the Iowans who continued to push for this action, including Iowa fuel retailers, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig and our entire federal congressional delegation. This is a victory for consumer choice at the pump and for saving families money during the busy summer driving season."

Almost two years after the eight Midwest governors submitted their request, the EPA approved their year-round E15 solution in February 2024. Historically, the Biden administration issued emergency waivers for summer E15 use in 2022 and 2023.

"Retailers not currently offering E15 in these eight Midwest states can now move forward knowing E15 is a year-round fuel," said Shaw. "We expect E15 adoption to happen quickly. But we're not done. This is a great steppingstone to continue the fight to achieve year-round, nationwide E15," said Shaw. "With E15 sales skyrocketing 47% over the last year in Iowa, it is crystal clear the demand for a cleaner-burning, cost-effective fuel is here today."

E15, a blend of gasoline and 15 percent ethanol, is typically 10 to 20 cents per gallon less than E10. Today's emergency action overrides outdated regulations that made it difficult for retailers to sell E15 from June 1 through September 15 in some parts of the country. Retailers in the areas with bad air quality have always been allowed to offer E15 year-round.

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association represents the state's liquid renewable fuels industry and works to foster its growth. Iowa is the nation's leader in renewable fuels production with 42 ethanol refineries capable of producing 4.7 billion gallons annually - including 34 million gallons of annual cellulosic ethanol production capacity - and 10 biodiesel facilities with the capacity to produce 416 million gallons annually. For more information, visit the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association website at: www.IowaRFA.org.

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