On behalf of Urban Air Initiative and a coalition of ethanol producers and agricultural stakeholders, and separately on behalf of Illinois Corn Growers Association and Missouri Corn Growers Association, BG&A persuaded EPA to consider the role of midlevel ethanol fuel blends in its Midterm Evaluation of EPA’s greenhouse gas standards for model years 2022 to 2025.
In a public hearing and in written comments, BG&A highlighted the potential of high-octane midlevel ethanol blends to increase vehicle efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
In a notice announcing its reconsideration of the final determination, EPA acknowledged comments by “ethanol producers and agricultural organizations in support of high octane blends from clean sources as a way to enable GHG reducing technologies.” EPA noted information in the comments “suggesting that mid-level (e.g., E30) high octane ethanol blends should be considered as part of the Mid-term Evaluation.” EPA gave “careful consideration” to these and other comments and agreed that high-octane midlevel ethanol blends are one of several “promising technologies that may be able to deliver significant improvements in reducing GHG emissions once fully deployed.”
BG&A’s comments on behalf of Urban Air Initiative and ethanol producers are available here.
BG&A’s comments on behalf of the Illinois Corn Growers Association and the Missouri Corn Growers Association are available here.