The Renewable Fuels Association is urging the Trump administration to take immediate action allowing broader use of lower-cost, American-made ethanol in the U.S. fuel supply to help blunt the impacts of higher crude oil and gasoline prices.
"Adding larger volumes of low-cost ethanol to gasoline is a proven solution for reducing fuel prices and helping to insulate the U.S. market from global supply shocks," wrote RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper in a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who chairs the administration's National Energy Dominance Council. "A series of simple deregulatory actions could rapidly unleash billions of gallons of additional fuel volume, providing relief at the pump for hardworking American families."
Ethanol is selling at a significant discount to gasoline, Cooper noted. On March 6, ethanol was selling for $0.84 per gallon less than gasoline at the wholesale level--a discount of 31 percent. In recent days, E15 has been selling for $0.27 per gallon less than standard E10 gasoline.
RFA urged the following actions, among others:
· As soon as possible, EPA should issue emergency summertime fuel waivers allowing E15 nationwide.
· EPA should immediately eliminate all E15 Misfuelling Mitigation Plan requirements and adopt a simple requirement that retail gasoline stations offering E15 for sale must also continue to make E0 or E10 available in at least one clearly marked dispenser at the station.
· Establish a presumption of E15 compatibility for all fuel dispensers, underground storage tank (UST) systems (including piping and all other underground components), and "hanging hardware" (e.g., hoses and nozzles) installed after 2005.
"The most effective way to prevent additional increases in gas prices across the U.S. is by expanding and diversifying the domestic fuel supply, including ethanol made from our nation's farm fields," Cooper concluded. "Knocking down regulatory barriers and allowing E15 to be stored and distributed in existing infrastructure throughout the summer will lower fuel costs for Americans and strengthen the market's resilience against global supply disruptions."
EDITOR’S TAKE:
And let’s not overlook the passage of legislation by Congress to allow E15 sales year-round. That is something that the National Corn Growers Association called for this past week. And this is not the first time ethanol has come to the rescue of petroleum consumers. Why not lower prices at the pump and help support our nation's corn producers.
If you believe this is a logical approach, please write to Secretary Burgum in support of the RFA’s proposals. Also, contact your congressional delegation and ask for the immediate passage of legislation to allow the sales of E15. Then let farmers/ranchers in your area know that you have taken these actions to support them. They will definitely appreciate your efforts and support.
