E15 waiver set to increase use at US gasoline pumps

The US Appeals Court for the District of Columbia Circuit has sided with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its partial waiver approval for E15 ethanol fuel for model year 2001 and newer light duty vehicles and all flex-fuel vehicles.

Those vehicles represent nearly two-thirds of all vehicles on the road and almost 75% of vehicle miles driven.

Since the initial waiver filing in March 2009, vehicles were tested using E15 for a combined six million miles, health effects data on E15 was collected and approved and a first of its kind misfueling mitigation plan was required and approved in order for retailer to offer E15.

‘Today’s decision is an important step forward in the nation’s quest to diversify our nation’s fuel supply,’ says Renewable Fuels Association CEO Bob Dinneen. ‘Adding an E15 option, alongside E10 and higher ethanol blends, allows consumers to make the fuel decisions that work best for them and their vehicle.’

Currently there is at least one gasoline station in Lawrence, Kansas, selling E15 under the conditions set by the partial waiver.

‘Ethanol has a thirty year track record of safe and effective use in the market place and that record will continue,’ Dinneen adds. ‘Allowing for additional ethanol use will help lower prices at the pump, create domestic jobs and accelerate the commercialisation of new biofuel technologies.

‘The market for ethanol confined to E10 blends has been saturated.  Allowing ethanol blends of up to E15 for 2001 and new vehicles, as well as increasing the availability of higher level ethanol blends up to E85, will provide much-needed market access to help ensure the growth and evolution of the domestic renewable fuels industry continues.’