Topekaha, Kan. – The United States consumers may still buy Upper Ethanol mixture E15 gasoline This summer, the Environmental Protection Agency announced Monday, saving them some money in the bomb but risking potential damage to air and water.
The emergency exemption issued by the EPA prevents retailers in most states from having to stop selling E15 gasoline on May 1. Although the exemption remains in force only until May 20, the EPA administrator, Lee Zeldin, said he plans to continue issuing exemptions until September 15, the date on which the federal government usually allows sales of E15 in all states again.
Most gasoline sold in the US is combined with 10% ethanol, but 15% mixtures are becoming increasingly common, particularly in the west medium, where most of the corn of the nation is cultivated. Gasoline E15 generally costs at least 10 cents less per gallon than gasoline E10, but the EPA had previously prohibited its sale during the summer for the concerns that its use during the summer driving season could increase the smog.
But the EPA has relaxed restrictions in E15, giving a series of short -term exemptions in 2022, 2023 and 2024 to allow its sale throughout the country during the summer. And last year, the EPA He issued a rule Allowing sales throughout the year in eight states of the west medium: Iowa, usually the main corn producer of the country, as well as Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
Trump administration officials said Monday’s action will reduce consumer costs and give them more options in the pump, while increasing corn demand. They also described it as the reduction of the United States dependence on imported energy.
“The great corn producers of our nation are critical to help the United States achieve energy independence, which is essential for national security,” said Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, in a statement.
While the ethanol industry and Iowa officials praised the action of the EPA, the Renewable Fuel Association, a commercial group for ethanol producers, argued that Congress should approve legislation that allows sales E15 throughout the year in the United States
“So that the economic and energy security benefits of E15 are fully carried out, the market needs long -term certainty,” said President and CEO Geoff Cooper.
The biofuel industry and politicians in both main parties argue that ethanol helps farmers reduce prices in the pump and reduce greenhouse gases because the fuel burns more cleanly than straight gasoline.
But ethanol consumes about 40% of the nation’s corn cultivation, and environmentalists argue that a greater corn production leads to a greater use of fertilizers that are a leading source of water pollution.
Zack Pistora, Kansas Cabildo for the Sierra Club, said that ethanol plants also use high amounts of water, and states like Kansas are concerned about the exhaustion of aquifers. He said he is “hypocritical” portraying ethanol as ecological and said the Trump administration should promote renewable energy, electric vehicles, public transport and sustainable agriculture.
“We need to drastically reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, but trusting corn -based ethanol does not put our country on the path it needs,” Pistora said in an interview.
