Agriculture and energy are at the heart of Ohio’s economy. The Buckeye State is a large producer of corn, soybeans, wheat, dairy, eggs, and more – ranking 11th in the nation for the number of farms at more than 70,000.
However, more can be done to strengthen our state’s agriculture industry while providing consumers with affordable, sustainable fuel and promoting American fuel independence.
Year-round, nationwide sales of E15 can help corn growers and consumers alike.
E15 is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved fuel blend containing 85% petroleum gasoline and 15% ethanol that can be used in the majority of cars, light-duty trucks, and SUVs on the road today. By allowing more ethanol in the fuel blend, retailers can deliver – an affordable option at the pump. But, without a federal waiver, consumers can’t access E15 from June 1 to September 15 because of outdated federal regulations.
In extreme fuel supply disruption or unusual circumstances, the EPA has the emergency authority to temporarily relax the volatility standard for E15 to help ensure adequate fuel is available. Temporary emergency waivers aren’t a sustainable, long-term solution for the marketplace. A commonsense approach is needed here.
Updating the federal statute to allow for year-round, nationwide sales of E15 would mitigate a complex patchwork of unique state or regional fuel requirements. It would also provide a level playing field and make E15 available to consumers in every part of the country.
Adoption of federal legislation allowing the year-round sale of E15 nationwide would help ensure uniformity across America’s fuel supply, bringing regulatory certainty and consistency for refiners, fuel marketers, and retailers. It could also help spare consumers from potentially higher costs and supply disruptions due to unique adjustments to how fuel is moved in the Midwest and adjacent states.
A broad coalition of stakeholders from the petroleum industry, fuel marketing, retail, ethanol, and agriculture sectors, including the Ohio Corn & Wheat Growers Association and the American Petroleum Institute, are supporting the swift passage of the bipartisan Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2023 that was introduced in the U.S. Senate as S. 2707 and H.R. 9885 in the House. This legislation would avoid a complex, state-by-state regulatory landscape for fuels while resolving longstanding stakeholder differences about fuel volatility regulations. The bill would also eliminate the need for the EPA to consider using its emergency waiver authority to allow E15 to be used every summer. This commonsense solution would allow E10 and E15 to use today’s blendstock and benefit businesses, industries, and consumers, given that another fuel option would be readily available.
E15 helps support American jobs and bolsters farming communities while reducing tailpipe carbon dioxide emissions and the lifecycle carbon intensity of gasoline. Consistent access to E15 could help Ohio farmers and fuel retailers immediately deliver high-quality, low-carbon, and potentially more affordable fuel. The bottom line is that allowing year-round E15 sales nationwide would help ensure Ohio’s vibrant farming industry continues to flourish, strengthen the reliability of the fuel supply chain, and ensure American consumers have access to the fuels they depend on every day. Supporting American jobs, consumer choice, and environmental progress should be a priority for policymakers.
The writers are Tadd Nicholson, executive director of the Ohio Corn & Wheat Growers Association, and Chris Zeigler, executive director of the American Petroleum Institute Ohio.