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Michigan Farm Bureau Family of Companies

Emergency waiver issued for summer E15 sales

Date Posted: May 3, 2022

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has formally issued an emergency fuel waiver to allow gasoline that uses a 15% ethanol blend (E15) to be sold this summer, effective immediately.

According to EPA, the emergency waiver is meant to counteract the Russia’s war against Ukraine and the profound impact on global and domestic energy markets.

Without the waiver, which went into effect May 1, E15 sales are prohibited in most states from June 1 to September 15. The waiver will last for the statutory maximum of 20 days, according to Michigan Farm Bureau Industry Relations Specialist Theresa Sisung.

“EPA will continue to monitor the supply with industry and federal partners and is expected to issue new waivers — effectively extending the emergency fuel waiver until such time as the extreme and unusual fuel supply circumstances due to the war in Ukraine are no longer present,” Sisung said.

The Clean Air Act allows the EPA Administrator, in consultation with U.S. Department of Energy, to temporarily waive certain fuel requirements to address shortages. 

E15 is currently sold at more than 2,300 gas stations across the country. Drivers are currently saving up to 20 cents or more per gallon with E15, while reducing emissions compared to traditional gasoline. 

“Homegrown, domestically-sourced biofuels have reduced greenhouse gas emissions the equivalent of taking 18 million cars off the road per year,” Sisung added. “Allowing for expanded E15 sales is a commonsense approach to easing the uncertainty caused by increased fuel prices and supply chain challenges.”

Theresa Sisung headshot

Theresa Sisung

Industry Relations Specialist
517-323-6729 [email protected]