Grassley applauds EPA decision to grant waiver for summer E-15 sales

WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency announced on Friday that it will let the higher ethanol blend E-15 to be sold this summer in Iowa and seven other Midwestern states.

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley this morning during a conference call with ag reporters praised the decision by the White House and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin for allowing the waiver. “President Trump is coming through for ethanol, just like he promised. I consider this a big win for biofuel producers and consumers, and of course farmers.”

Grassley says it’s now up to Congress to make the rule permanent.  “Starting April 28th of this year, Iowans can count on unfettered access to E-15. Now it’s up to Congress to pass legislation allowing for E-15 to be sold year-round and nationwide, so we don’t have the discretion of EPA to take it away. Nationwide year-round E-15 access would result in billions of additional gallons of E-15 to be sold into the future.”

The sale of fuel with a 15% blend of ethanol has been prohibited nationwide in the summer due to concerns it could worsen smog levels.