Iowa Farmers Welcome Year-Round E15 Rule

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released today the final rule allowing E15 to be sold to 2001 and newer vehicles year-round across the country. The rule allows drivers to fuel up with the cleanest, lowest cost, homegrown fuel.

“Year-round E15 has been a top priority for the Iowa Corn Growers Association® (ICGA), and we are happy to see the EPA recognize and follow through with President Trump’s promise on E15. The rule provides consumers uninterrupted access to E15 across the country so they can take advantage of this higher octane, more environmentally-friendly fuel,” says Curt Mether, President of ICGA and farmer near Logan.  “The summer driving season is here and having access to E15 during this time is a step in the right direction for Iowa corn farmers and drivers.”

“We’ve advocated for the passing of E15 for a long time, and it’s satisfying to finally have an end result to a rule ICGA and its members are passionate about market access for homegrown ethanol fuels,” Mether shared.

E15, often marketed at the pump as Unleaded88, is a fuel blend containing 15 percent ethanol and is approved for use in all 2001 and newer vehicles. These vehicles make up roughly 90 percent of the vehicles on the road today and E15 is often sold at a three to ten cent discount to Super Unleaded E10. Before the finalized rule, the outdated Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) regulations forced fuel retailers to restrict sales of E15 to flex fuel vehicles (FFV) only from June 1 to September 15, the peak driving season. Since that regulation is now lifted, motorists can access E15 year-around.

“While we’re happy to see E15 now available for consumers year-round, if the EPA continues to hand out hundreds of millions of gallons worth of Small Refinery Exemptions under the RFS, any potential near-term benefit provided by this rule will be swiftly gutted by the onslaught of that demand destruction,” added Mether. “Simply put, the damage that can be done unilaterally by the EPA through SREs has the potential to far outweigh any benefit this rule provides to Iowa farmers and consumers. We need President Trump to keep the EPA in alignment with his promises on ethanol.”

For More Information:

Brandi Snyder, Public Relations Manager, bsnyder@iowacorn.org, 515-225-9242