EMA Submits Comments on RVP Summertime Fuel “Opt-Out”

Recently, the Biden Administration delayed a decision on allowing the year-round sale of E15 in certain Midwest states until the 2024 summer season. The decision stems from a petition by a group of Midwest governors to permit the summertime sale of E15 in their states authorized under a provision in the Clean Air Act allowing an exclusion from the 1 psi waiver for E10 upon notification by a governor that the higher Reid vapor pressure (RVP) limit will increase air emissions in that state. EMA supports the delay of the 1 psi exclusion waiver because it would require the creation of a boutique fuel exclusive to the petitioning states, thus limiting gasoline supply to the region. A study conducted by Baker & O’Brien found that eliminating the RVP waiver for summertime E10 and introducing a new gasoline blend to just the petitioning states would cost $500-$800 million. EPA determined the request would result in a shortage of gasoline in the petitioning states for summer 2023, therefore, deciding to delay implementation until summer 2024 for Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

CLICK HERE to read EMA’s comments.