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American Coalition for Ethanol submits EPA reform priorities

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) has submitted comments to the EPA about the regulatory changes it wants for ethanol. Last month, new EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt set up a task force to review existing EPA regulations and invited public comments on them. Brian Jennings, Executive Vice President of the coalition, says the top priority for his group is having the EPA revise emissions standards to allow E15 and higher ethanol blends to be sold year round.

“Today, in most parts of the country, retailers are now allowed to sell E-15 in the summer months. That’s because EPA has refused to update a regulation regarding evaporative emissions for fuel. E-15 is the cleanest fuel approved for most cars on the road today,” says Jennings.

Jennings tells Brownfield an update of that regulation would increase demand for more ethanol production and higher ethanol blends, which could help increase the price of corn.

“We all know we’re sitting on surplus stocks of corn today and low corn prices. So at the end of the day, this is about increasing demand for corn and providing a valuable market for farmers,” says Jennings.

Jennings says the EPA should also update the life cycle analysis of corn ethanol, reevaluate the EPA’s interpretation of the Clean Air Act and streamline the approval process for higher octane fuel blends.

The deadline to submit comments to the EPA on its regulatory review is May 15th.

Click here to read the coalition’s comments to the EPA

Click here to comment on EPA regulations

Audio: Brian Jennings, Executive Vice President, American Coalition for Ethanol