A decision from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to allow gasoline that uses a 15% ethanol blend (E15) to be sold this summer is being resoundingly supported by the Michigan Farm Bureau.
Under orders from the Biden Administration, the EPA plans to issue an emergency waiver that will allow for E15 — often sold as Unleaded 88 — to be sold during summer months.
Without the waiver, E15 sales are prohibited in most states from June 1 to September 15.
“Allowing summertime E15 sales is victory for Michigan families who are looking for any way to find relief from prices at the pump,” Michigan Farm Bureau President Carl Bednarski, a Tuscola County farmer said.
“We thank the Biden Administration for taking this commonsense approach to help drivers while supporting American agriculture and energy independence through lower cost and lower emission biofuels. Farm Bureau will continue to support efforts in Congress to permanently allow year-round E15 sales.”
E15 is currently sold at more than 2,300 gas stations across the country and offers drivers an average savings of 10 cents per gallon over traditional gasoline. In some areas, E15 has sold for as much as 70-80 cents per gallon less.
“The use of homegrown, domestically-sourced biofuels has reduced greenhouse gas emissions the equivalent of taking 18 million cars off the road per year,” said Michigan Farm Bureau Industry Relations Specialist Theresa Sisung.
“Not only does E15 provide drivers with an additional fuel choice, it can also help offset the loss of Russian oil imports that were recently banned as a result of the invasion of Ukraine.”
According to the National Corn Growers Association, if just one-third of regular E10 fuel sales were replaced with E15, it would fully replace all gasoline from previously imported Russian oil.
Efforts to permanently allow for year-round E15 sales continue to gain momentum in both the U.S. House and Senate.
