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NE Governor highlights E30 study as emissions solution

A recent study by the University of Nebraska says E-30 fuel would produce less carbon and be more cost effective than E-15.  

Nebraska Ethanol Board Administrator Roger Berry says if 10 percent of non-flex fuel vehicles in Nebraska moved to E-30, ethanol consumption would increase by nearly 19 million gallons a year decreasing CO2 emissions by 64 thousand tons per year. 

“Our nation faces a very crucial task of lowering greenhouse gasses in our atmosphere,” Berry said. “It is critical that we immediately start reducing the greenhouse emissions from our transportation sector.”

The study says the two blends showed a ‘nearly identical’ cost per mile. The researchers estimate that E-30 would cost 2.5 percent less per gallon which Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts says would boost corn demand. 

“This is something where people, by using ethanol, can save money at the pump, help clean up the environment,” he said. “And, of course, this is great for our farmers and ranchers as 35 percent of our corn crop goes into ethanol.”

Renewable Fuels CEO Geoff Cooper says the study demonstrates the benefits of higher ethanol blends and RFA will continue to advocate for optimizing vehicles to burn higher ethanol fuels.  

The yearlong study tested 50 vehicles ranging from six- to eight-years-old by splitting them between E-15 and E-30 and driving for more than 300,000 miles.

Kellan Heavican contributed to this article.