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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)
-- Drivers in eight Midwestern
states will be able to fuel
up with a higher blend of
ethanol throughout the year
under a final rule announced
Thursday by the Environmental
Protection Agency.
The biofuels industry and
farming groups, with support
of Midwest governors,
sought the end of a summertime
ban on sales of gasoline
blended with 15% ethanol
for years. The higher blend
has been prohibited because
of concerns it could worsen
smog during warm weather.
The move reflects the
importance of ethanol to
agriculture.
The fuel additive consumes
roughly 40% of the
nation's corn crop, so higher
sales of ethanol could mean
greater profits for corn farmers.
The rule, which takes
effect in April 2025, will
apply in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota,
Missouri, Nebraska,
Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
Those states grow the
bulk of the U.S. corn crop
and are home to much of the
nation's ethanol production.
The EPA said it delayed
implementation of the new
rule because of concerns
there wasn't enough supply
to meet demand this summer.
Ethanol producers welcomed
the change but criticized the
EPA for that delay.
"While we are pleased to
see EPA has finally approved
year-round E15 in these
eight states, we are extremely
disappointed by the agency's
needless decision to delay
implementation until 2025,"
the Renewable Fuels Association,
a trade group, said in
a statement. "It's helpful to
finally have some certainty
about 2025 and beyond, but
what happens this summer?"