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E15 sales hit record in 2019

A record amount of E15 was sold in 2019.

Renewable Fuels Association chief economist Scott Richman says by looking at data from Minnesota, the only state currently tracking monthly purchases of higher ethanol blends, he was able to extrapolate the numbers.

“You can estimate that there were basically about 100 million gallons of E15 sold in Minnesota, (therefore) about 500 million gallons sold in the U.S.”

With the annual June through September E15 Reid Vapor Pressure restrictions lifted, he tells Brownfield summer sales doubled.

“And they were actually about 33 percent higher for the entire year of 2019 than they were in 2018. So the rule is working, and it’s good news for the industry.”

Richman says E15 sales would’ve been even stronger in 2019 if not for the dozens of small refinery exemptions issued by the EPA.