Earlier this week, President Biden announced his administration would use its existing authority to keep lower-cost and lower-emission E15, a higher ethanol blend often marketed as Unleaded 88, accessible to American drivers.
“The President’s announcement is welcomed news,” Charles Ring, a farmer from Sinton and the Texas Corn Producers Association (TCPA) president, said. “Corn associations and our members have been advocating for this move for some time. We’re glad to see the President acknowledge the role ethanol as a renewable, home-grown fuel can play in energy independence.”
Full-market access for E15 was set to end this summer due to a 2021 court decision following the oil industry’s efforts to limit the growth of higher ethanol blends.
TCPA, alongside fellow state corn associations with National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and members, urged the President and Congress to work to extend the use of E15 to bridle the prices as consumer costs soared over recent months.
Permitting continued summer sales of E15 keeps a lower-emission fuel in the marketplace – making it a cleaner-burning fuel that’s better for air quality. Every year, ethanol adds billions of gallons to the nation’s fuel supply – increasing the total fuel available to consumers and lowering demand for high-cost, often foreign-produced, oil.
Though most corn grown in the state is used to feed livestock, there is ample corn supply to meet current and growing ethanol demand, according to Texas Corn Producers Board Chairman Robert Gordon, who farmers near Dalhart.
“Corn farmers’ productivity and efficiency innovations have allowed us to create a large crop with less resources – enabling us to produce quality food, feed and fuel with a renewable resource grown domestically,” Gordon said.
While this announcement for E15 year-round is a positive development, corn associations continue to advocate for what else ethanol has to offer U.S. energy security.
“The benefits are obvious for year-round E15 – simply put, it makes sense for American consumers,” Ring said. “TCPA will continue working with fellow corn organizations to urge Congress to make this week’s announcement a permanent solution by passing the Next Generation Fuels Act.”
Find out more about ethanol, its role in the corn industry, and advocacy efforts HERE.
