BIO Submits Comments Supportive of EPA Plan to Allow Year-Round Use of E15

BIO Submits Comments Supportive of EPA Plan to Allow Year-Round Use of E15

Washington, D.C. (April 29, 2019) – The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) today submitted comments supportive of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) “Proposed Rulemaking for Modifications to Fuel Regulations to Provide Flexibility for E15 and to Elements of the Renewable Identification Number (RIN) Compliance System,” which would allow for year-round use of gasoline blended with up to 15 percent ethanol.

“BIO recognizes the time constraints EPA is working under, but it urges the agency to expedite its review of the proposed rule to ensure E15 will be available when the summer driving season begins on June 1,” BIO’s comments read. “With respect to EPA’s proposed regulatory changes to … the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program, EPA should not significantly alter the RIN markets to address unproven fears of market manipulation.”

“Increased use of ethanol can help combat gasoline prices, which typically rise at the start of summer as refineries switch to production of summer-grade gasoline, providing retailers an incentive to include E15 as an option for consumers,” the comments also note.

“Approval of the regulatory changes for E15 will spur investment and development of new biofuels infrastructure, increasing the use of advanced and cellulosic biofuels,” the comments conclude. “We recognize the immense pressure the agency has been under to develop a solution to address this regulatory burden. Given the economic, environmental, and regulatory benefits E15 can provide to the transportation fuel market, we urge EPA to have it finalized in time so retailers can make it available for consumers in the upcoming summer driving season.”

BIO estimates year-round availability of  E15 could save U.S. drivers approximately $9.5 billion per year and that summer use of E15 could save between 7 million and 10.4 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent GHG emissions, which is equivalent to taking 1.4 to 2.2 million cars off the road over a 10-year period.

Click here to read BIO’s comments in their entirety.

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