After Year with No Decision, Pressure Mounts on EPA to Take Final Action

Contact: Emma Koehler
515-252-6249

JOHNSTON, IOWA – In a letter sent to the US EPA today, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) and 23 additional Midwest renewable fuels and corn organizations asked the agency to approve the Midwest Governors’ Year-Round E15 fix by the end of September 2023. This action follows a lawsuit filed yesterday by the Iowa and Nebraska Attorneys General seeking to compel the EPA to act.

“IRFA is proud to stand with all these other organizations and say to the EPA – do your job,” stated IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw. “Federal law required EPA to act on the Governors’ E15 request over a year ago, yet we’re still waiting. Patience has run out. It’s beyond time to provide certainty for E15.”

While the EPA took emergency action to allow continued sales of E15 during the summer of 2023, a long-term solution would provide stability for 2024 and beyond.

“Consumers need year-round sales of lower-cost, lower-carbon E15,” stated Shaw. “Retailers and suppliers need certainty to make investments. Finalizing the rule by the end of this summer would allow sufficient time for refiners to be ready for the summer of 2024.”

In April of 2022, eight Midwest Governors, led by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, exercised their Clean Air Act (CAA) authority to equalize the summer regulations for E10 and E15. By law, EPA should have approved this action after no more than 90 days. Defying the Congressional deadline, EPA waited until March 6, 2023, almost a year after receiving the petition, to propose approval of the request, and the proposed rule has not yet been finalized.

A copy of the letter can be found here.

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The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association represents the state’s liquid renewable fuels industry and works to foster its growth. Iowa is the nation’s leader in renewable fuels production with 42 ethanol refineries capable of producing 4.5 billion gallons annually – including 34 million gallons of annual cellulosic ethanol production capacity – and 11 biodiesel facilities with the capacity to produce 410 million gallons annually. For more information, visit the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association website at: www.IowaRFA.org.