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POET says year-round e15 still uncertain despite years of advocacy

The world’s largest biofuel producer says nationwide year-round E15 legislation remains in limbo.

Doug Berven, vice president of corporate affairs with POET, says it’s been a frustrating uphill battle. “Is going to happen this year? I don’t know. We’ve been working very hard on it. We’ve been predicting that it will get done for quite a while now. It’s hard predicting the same thing. It will get done. We will get there. It’s just been painful getting there. We filed a waiver for E15 all the way back in 2009.”

He tells Brownfield higher blends of ethanol would increase demand for U.S. corn. “Our fear is that we’re heading for another ag crisis if we don’t get more biofuels into the system and soak up the surplus grain.”

Berven says farmers have long advocated for higher blends of ethanol, but it’s time for consumers to get involved in the conversation. “It’s a shame they haven’t. It’s better for the air. It’s better for human health. It lowers the price at the pump. It makes agriculture solvent. It is such a great product for everything and every product, and we don’t have it and we need to get it.”

He says if retailers aren’t selling E15, then consumers should ask for it to help increase demand for the product.