To provide certainty to America’s farmers, producers, and consumers during the upcoming summer driving season, U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) and U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA) joined more than two dozen of their colleagues in urging the Biden administration to heed requests from Midwest governors to remove regulatory barriers for gasoline-ethanol blends — like E15.
“Homegrown ethanol is the cheaper, cleaner option to relieve pain at the pump,” Sen. Ernst said. “Finalizing the Midwest governors’ common-sense request will bring more certainty for Iowa’s corn growers, fuel retailers, and consumers directly impacted by the decisions of Biden’s EPA.”
“The EPA must stop dragging its feet and grant the governors’ request for E15 to be sold year-round,” said Rep. Hinson. “The infrastructure is at the ready to meet consumer demand this summer — our farmers and fuel retailers just need certainty.”
The lawmakers’ request follows one made in April 2022 by several Midwest governors, who formally notified the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of their request to permanently remove the 1-psi volatility waiver to allow their states to sell gasoline containing 15 percent ethanol (E15) year-round, without restriction.
Since then, more states have joined the effort, and Sen. Ernst, Rep. Hinson, and 29 other lawmakers — including the entire Iowa congressional delegation — followed suit, asking the EPA to quickly implement the outstanding regulatory action to remove the 1-psi volatility waiver for gasoline-ethanol blends in the Midwest states.
“Homegrown, American-produced ethanol strengthens our national security and ensures lower vehicle emissions to achieve the administration’s climate goals,” they wrote in a Feb. 9 letter sent to EPA Administrator Michael Regan and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Shalanda Young. “Relying on an annual emergency waiver is not a permanent solution for fuel retailers, consumers, or the environment.
“By working swiftly to finalize the governors’ requests, you will bring much-needed certainty” to the marketplace, wrote the lawmakers, who noted that under the Clean Air Act, once the EPA administrator receives a notification from a governor, the agency must respond with the regulation within 90 days. However, since the governors’ April 2022 request, there has been no action taken by the EPA nor OMB, they wrote.
Among those who signed on to the bipartisan, bicameral letter were U.S. Sens. Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), as well as U.S. Reps. Mike Bost (R-IL), Tom Emmer (R-MN), Randy Feenstra (R-IA), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Darin LaHood (R-IL), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Pete Stauber (R-MN), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL).