Perdue Backs Year-Round E15 Sales

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue told Iowa farmers in August that the current administration is committed to approving year-round sales of E15.

Currently, E15 sales are disallowed during the summer ozone season.

According to a report in the Quad-City Times, Perdue said President Trump may issue an executive order allowing the sale of fuel with 15 percent ethanol by volume throughout the year.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulates the vapor pressure of gasoline sold at retail stations from June 1 to Sept. 15 to reduce evaporative emissions from gasoline that contribute to ground-level ozone. A waiver is necessary for different ethanol blends to be sold during this period. The EPA has granted this waiver for fuel containing 10 percent ethanol or less (E10), but not for E15.

The AMA objects to year-round E15 sales, because it would increase the risk of misfueling by motorcyclists and ATV owners. It also would likely result in less availability of safer E10 and E0 fuels.