President Joe Biden has announced that he will suspend the EPA ban on E15 gasoline this summer as inflation at the gas pump continues to hold steady. Critics have stated while the news is good for corn growers, the move is bad for both fuel efficiency and the environment.
“Today, I am announcing that the Environmental Protection Agency is planning to issue an emergency waiver to allow E15 gasoline — gasoline that uses more ethanol from home-grown crops — to be sold across the U.S. this summer in order to increase fuel supply and lower prices.” President Biden wrote on Twitter.
E15, a blend of gas that mixes 15% ethanol and 85% gasoline, is expected to save drivers 10 cents per gallon, according to the White House.
The Drive reports that because E15 mitigates gas mileage for many vehicles, drivers will actually spend more on gas in the long run. The Drive states E15’s its utilization could hurt car engines and is not worth saving 10 cents at the pump.
The Clean Air Act had prohibited fueling up with E15 because it causes more pollution possibilities when it’s warm outside, according to NPR.
The news organization reported that as opposed to E10 gas, vendors have restricted facilities to sell E15 gasoline because they are not able to sell the product every day of the year. Roughly 2,300 gas stations across the country have E15 gas.
Additionally, ARS Technica states that E15 biofuel mix is known to add to smog.
Currently, there are no gas stations in Nevada that sell E15, according to E85prices.com, which examines substitute dynamics when it comes to fuel.
Earlier this month, President Biden announced his administration would release up to 180 million barrels of crude oil from the nation’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve over the next six months to help reduce rising gas prices.
