13 Apr Renew Kansas commends state-level bipartisan effort resulting in 2022 summer sales of E15
Renew Kansas Biofuels Association’s statewide advocacy efforts in-part resulted in assisting President Joe Biden’s announcement of an emergency waiver lifting the restriction on 2022 summer sales of E15 fuel on April 12.
The announcement followed letters coordinated by Renew Kansas and submitted to the Biden Administration by both Kansas Governor Laura Kelly and Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt requesting expanded availability of E15. E15 is a lower cost, high-octane fuel offering environmental benefits through lower emission and a reduction on foreign oil dependence.
“We extend our sincerest gratitude to Governor Kelly for continually honoring her commitment to the Kansas biofuels industry,” Renew Kansas Biofuels Association President and CEO Ron Seeber said. “Nearly 80 stations in Kansas offer E15 fuel and because of Governor Kelly’s ongoing efforts discussing the positive economic and environmental impact of biofuels with the Biden Administration, Kansans now have the option to purchase a cost-effective, eco-friendly fuel for the remainder of the year.”
Schmidt, following a meeting with Renew Kansas leadership, coordinated an attorneys general letter with Iowa’s democratic attorney general Tom Miller requesting EPA and the Biden Administration lift outdated regulations blocking the summer sales of E15, commonly labeled as Unleaded 88 at the pump.
“We are appreciative of Attorney General Schmidt and his longstanding advocacy for Kansas agriculture and home-grown fuels,” Seeber said. “We applaud him for his willingness to reach across the aisle and swiftly send a letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan urging the necessity of an emergency waiver for our state’s well-being.”
E15 is a fifteen percent ethanol blended fuel with a lower vapor pressure than E10 (a ten percent ethanol blend). Due to regulations set 30 years ago when blending beyond ten percent had yet to be envisioned, E15 has been locked out of the summer market. Studies have shown fuel volatility and evaporative emissions continue to decrease when ethanol fuel blends increase beyond E10.
President Biden’s announcement of an emergency waiver is not a permanent solution allowing access to E15 year-round. Renew Kansas Biofuels Association and its industry partners will continue to work with like-minded coalitions and elected officials at the local and federal level to seek a long-term solution allowing drivers a 365-day option of fueling with E15.