LINCOLN, Neb. (DTN) -- Consumers will continue to have access to E15 this summer after the Biden administration on Friday granted an emergency waiver.

For the third consecutive year, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced an emergency fuel waiver in response to the ongoing effects of the war in Ukraine and the Middle East.

The EPA was running up against a hard May 1 deadline for terminals to be able to continue selling E15 to retailers. 

"This action will provide communities with relief at the pump from ongoing market supply issues created by the ongoing war in Ukraine and conflict in the Middle East by increasing fuel supply and offering a variety of gasoline fuel blends from which consumers can choose," EPA said in a news release.

"This waiver will help consumers protect themselves against fuel supply shocks by reducing our reliance on imported fossil fuels, continuing to bolster U.S. energy independence, all while supporting American agriculture and manufacturing. Current estimates indicate that on average, E15 is about 25 cents a gallon cheaper than E10."

In about two-thirds of the country, E15 cannot be sold from terminals starting on May 1 and at retail stations starting on June 1.

"Because the RVP of E10 and E15 gasoline used by consumers will be the same, EPA does not expect any impact on air quality from this limited action," the agency said.

"EPA's research has shown no significant impact on evaporative emissions when the 1-psi waiver is extended to E15. With no significant impacts on emissions from cars and trucks, EPA expects consumers can continue to use E15 without concern that its use in the summer will impact air quality."

EPA's emergency fuel waiver will go into effect on May 1 when terminal operators would otherwise no longer be able to sell E15 in the affected regions of the country and will last through May 20 which is the statutory maximum of 20 days.

EPA said it would continue to monitor the gasoline supply with industry and federal partners, and the agency "expects to issue new waivers effectively extending the emergency fuel waiver until such time as the extreme and unusual fuel supply circumstances due to the ongoing war in Ukraine and conflict in the Middle East are no longer present."

In February 2024, the EPA issued a final rule allowing eight Midwest states to sell year-round E15 permanently but delayed the effective date to 2025. The states include Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings said in a statement the industry was grateful the administration listened to the calls for a waiver.

"ACE members pushed EPA to take this action during our D.C. fly-in last month and nearly 200 of our grassroots advocates contacted President Joe Biden and Administrator Michael Regan this month in support of an emergency waiver before the start of the 2024 summer driving season," Jennings said in a statement.

"Today's action is an important reminder that higher ethanol blends play a critical part in our nation's energy security as well as contribute significant climate and air quality benefits. A permanent solution to year-round E15 will ensure these benefits aren't left to the whim of ad hoc agency decision-making in the future."

Read more on DTN:

"E15 Year-Round Waiver Granted," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

Todd Neeley can be reached at todd.neeley@dtn.com

Follow him on social media platform X @DTNeeley

(c) Copyright 2024 DTN, LLC. All rights reserved.