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Expanded E15 approval could come today
Numerous media outlets are reporting that the EPA is likely to announce today the approval of a 15 percent blend of ethanol for use in 2001-2006 model year vehicles.
In October, the agency approved E15 for all cars and light-duty trucks manufactured since 2007.
The executive director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, Monte Shaw, says with the ethanol industry hitting the blend wall, the E15 approval would be welcome news.
“That really opens up a solid chunk—about 65 percent of the fuel sold goes into those vehicles” Shaw says, “and I think once they approve it for those vehicles, it makes a lot of sense for retailers to get E15 out there in front of their consumers.”
E15 still faces some big hurdles. Few gasoline retailers have the pump and storage tank configurations to accommodate another fuel blend. Plus, the oil industry and others have filed lawsuits attempting to derail the high blend.
The decision is also likely to add more fuel to the debate over the use of corn as a feedstock for motor fuels.
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