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ACE CEO says EPA could authorize year-round sales of E15 in the Midwest soon

The CEO of the American Coalition for Ethanol expects EPA to authorize year-round sales of E15 in the Midwest in the near future.

Brian Jennings tells Brownfield earlier this year eight Midwestern Governors asked the agency to lift the permanent summertime restriction on E15 sales.  “It is our expectation that EPA is in the process of putting forward a notice of public rulemaking that would support the request from those governors.”

The governors that signed onto the letter include: Kim Reynolds, Iowa; Pete Ricketts, Nebraska; JB Pritzker, Illinois; Laura Kelly, Kansas; Tim Walz, Minnesota; Doug Burgum, North Dakota; Kristi Noem, South Dakota; Tony Evers, Wisconsin.

But, he says, he’s optimistic it could survive a legal challenge. “It’s a regulatory approach that we think has some real benefits and advantages,” he says.” We think there is probably some legal challenges that it will face, but ultimately, I’m sure it likely be survived because we think it will be a durable approach.”

Jennings says a nation-wide solution is still needed and it should go through Congress. “We don’t want to get back into the situation of March and April of 2023 and we don’t have a solution in place for the summer months.”

The House passed the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act earlier this summer that would allow summertime sales of E15 and Jennings says he’s hopeful the Senate will pass the companion bill.

Brownfield spoke with Jennings at the 2022 ACE Annual Conference in Omaha, NE.

Brian Jennings, CEO of ACE: