In order to counteract high gas prices, a senior administration official confirmed that the Biden administration will temporarily authorize the sale of gasoline with higher ethanol content over the summer.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is about to issue a national emergency waiver to remove the restriction on the sale of E15 – fuel blend with a 15% ethanol- between June 1 and Sept.15, during the high-demand summer driving season.
The use of E15 at current prices, according to the Biden administration’s projections, could save the average family about 10 cents a gallon.
The official also pointed out that this will help the administration bridge toward real energy independence, stressing that EPA is also considering additional action to facilitate the use of E15 year-round. That includes discussions with states who want to allow year-round use of E15.
EPA will also work with states to ensure there are no significant air quality impacts in the summer driving season.
Previously in March, President Biden has ordered a major and unprecedented release of oil reserves from the strategic petroleum reserve and called for oil firms to produce using wells on unused leases.
The average gas prices in the United States and the world have hit record highs, with particularly dramatic spikes after Russia invaded Ukraine, but the Biden administration also pinned part of the blame on what they call price gouging by American oil companies, that were subject of last week’s House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing.
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