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Growth Energy joins fuel retailers calling for E15 emergency waiver

A leading biofuels group and two fuel retailers are calling on the Biden administration to issue an emergency waiver allowing E15 sales this summer.

On a call with reporters Thursday, Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor joined the director of retail fuels for Kum & Go and the CEO of NUVU Fuels Michigan to advocate for a solution to current regulations prohibiting the sale of fuel blended with 15 percent ethanol from June first to mid-September.

“And as you all know, last year the Biden administration waived the existing summer restrictions on an emergency basis to deliver relief at the pump. We believe this year should be no different.”

She says conditions that drove the administration to issue the waiver last April continue.

“Market volatility is driving up prices at the pump, which remain top-of-mind for consumers. In fact, just last week a headline from Reuters indicated that all U.S. gasoline stockpiles signal a repeat of last summer’s high prices.”

Brad Petersen with Kum & Go, which has more than 400 stores throughout 13 states mostly in the Midwest, says customers saved a lot of money with E15 last summer.

“And really I’m just here to simply state we can’t afford outdated summertime restrictions to get in the way of these cost savings for our customers.”

Skor says she’s optimistic an emergency waiver will be issued soon, pointing out an official with the administration recently said this type of waiver would need to be announced within relative proximity to the date it would take effect.