The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today an emergency waiver to permit the nationwide sales of E15 fuel blend for this summer. U.S Senator Chuck Grassley spearheaded the bill behind the permanent authorization of year-round ethanol blends higher than 10 percent, which the EPA did grant eight Midwestern states to sell E15 year-round beginning in the spring of 2025 back in February. Grassley and Senator Joni Ernst pushed to expedite this implementation to allow Iowans to purchase E15 this summer. Senator Ernst released the following statement celebrating this success: “Finally, Americans will have access to higher blends of ethanol, like E15, throughout this upcoming summer driving season. However, Iowa families, corn farmers, ethanol producers and fuel retailers should not have to wait for this certainty. I will continue to push for a nationwide solution that permanently secures lower prices at the gas station.” Senator Grassley expressed his joy of the waiver, saying “this summertime waiver is good news and will preserve access to E15 in the immediate term. However, EPA’s tradition of issuing stopgap E15 authorizations must come to an end. There’s no reason to disrupt the industry by withholding year-round, nationwide E15.” Governor Kim Reynolds was also pleased to see the implementation expedited, but has been questioning the delays from the EPA saying “This is a huge victory for Iowa farmers, American energy independence and consumers. However, it comes after a disappointing decision to delay implementation to permit year-round sales. The call for this action came from a coalition of Midwest Governors two years ago, and unjustified delays have only prolonged the uncertainty for consumers, fuel retailers, ethanol producers and farmers.” Gov. Reynolds also wants to thank Attorney General Brenna Bird and Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig for advocating for biofuels and said without everyone working together as a team, this victory would not have been possible.
