News

Moving year-round E15 across the finish line

A deal has been reached to temporarily reopen the government, and the general manager of POET Biorefining in Portland, Ind. says he’s hopeful the EPA’s rule allowing year-round E15 will be in place soon.

Matt Tomano says he’s encouraged by Acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler’s commitment to year-round E15.

“We’re confident that the EPA will do everything they can to meet the promise they made, and the promise President Trump made to the industry,” he says.

He tells Brownfield the limited sales of E15 have been a barrier to the biofuels industry.  

“This law is definitely going to allow the retailers more confidence in offering it to their consumers and people are going to choose it,” he says. “When that happens, the biofuels industry is going to achieve their production capacities and that means they’re going to purchase more corn from farmers.”

Prior to the shutdown, the EPA said it would release a rule in February. Wheeler recently said the rule would still be ready by June 1^st.

The EPA will seek public comment once the proposed rule is released.

Audio: Matt Tomano, POET Biorefining