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How much impact will year-round E15 have on ethanol

The potential impact of year-round E15 was a major topic during the National Ethanol Conference in Orlando.

Steve Walk, COO of Protec Fuel Management LLC–a Florida-based fuel supplier–says once the RVP rulemaking is in place, large chains in major metropolitan areas will commit to featuring higher ethanol blends.

“I think we’re going to see a real significant growth and explosion (for ethanol). I kind of wish E15 year-round was passed maybe two and-a–half years ago just because of some of the funding dollars that were out there. But it is what it is.”

American Coalition for Ethanol CEO Brian Jennings tells Brownfield having E15 available this summer would be very helpful as ethanol plants maneuver through challenging economic times.

“It alone won’t get the job done. I think we’ve wanted E15 year-round for so long that sometimes we oversell the upside potential of that in the near-term.”

He suggests incremental gallons short-term.

But Jennings says mid to long-term year-round E15 will provide a huge boost to demand.

The EPA continues to say the RVP rule will be in place by June 1^st.