EPA Needs To Move Forward On An E15 Waiver

Press Release

Gov. John Hoeven today said the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) needs to move forward soon with a simple and practical E15 implementation plan that service stations can work with. The statement came in response to the agency's announcement this morning that it will delay until next summer a decision to raise the allowable ethanol blend in gasoline to 15 percent.

Hoeven followed up on today's announcement with a telephone call to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson urging her to simplify the process and accelerate the scheduled implementation.

As Chairman of the Governors Biofuels Coalition, Hoeven made the original request for an E15 waiver in February to President Barack Obama, and subsequently spoke with EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, asking her to expedite the approval process. Hoeven also met this September in Washington, D.C. with senior EPA and Department of Energy officials to press for implementation of the waiver.

"While it appears the agency is leaning toward a positive conclusion, they need to move the process forward and reduce some of the complexity implied in their announcement," Hoeven said today. "We are concerned that the waiver may only apply to newer cars, which would create unnecessary confusion at the pump for consumers."

Hoeven said he's pleased that the agency is beginning the rule-making process for labeling, but believes it's important that labeling be used to make access to E15 easier. "It should encourage consumers to use blended fuel as part of their normal gas purchases," he said. "The choice shouldn't be much more complicated than filling up the tank."

The Governor said demand for ethanol could increase by half with the approval of an E15 waiver, and help replace more foreign oil with an environmentally sound domestic alternative.

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