Reps ask Wheeler to end RFS Small Refinery Waivers to Improve air Quality
Source: By Todd Neeley, DTN/Progressive Farmer • Posted: Wednesday, October 17, 2018
In a letter to Wheeler on Monday, the representatives led by Ruben Gallego, D-Arizona, pressed Wheeler to stop issuing waivers because biofuels are needed to improve air quality in minority communities.
“We are concerned that these actions have effectively cut blending targets by 2.25 billion gallons,” the letter said, “contributing to higher gas prices and elevated levels of harmful emissions, especially in communities of color. We therefore urge you to halt the issuance of any additional waivers and to instead consider steps that could help to unlock the full health and economic benefits of biofuels.”
Groups like the Urban Air Initiative have been fighting to convince the EPA to expand the use of higher ethanol blends because of air-quality benefits.
The representatives said in the letter that transportation fuels have overtaken power plants as the primary source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States.
“Unfortunately, these emissions have been found to cause or aggravate serious health conditions,” the letter said. “The effects of these emissions are not borne evenly across our country. Evidence continues to mount that communities of color are disproportionately impacted by air pollution, including transportation emissions.
MORE ON E15
On the E15 front, Massachusetts-based Cumberland Farms announced on Tuesday it would sell E15 at more than 120 of its stores, as part of the Prime the Pump program.
Casey’s General Store recently agreed to expand its E15 investment to 500 more of its stations.
Currently E15 is offered at Kwik Trip, Sheetz, Kum and Go, Minnoco, RaceTrac, Thorntons, Protec Fuel, QuikTrip, Family Express, Holiday, Murphy USA, Rutter’s and Cenex. EPA approved the use of E15 in vehicle models 2001 and newer.
By February, EPA is expected to release a proposed rule to allow year-round E15 sales as well as possible reforms to the renewable identification numbers, or RINs, market. This means the agency would have the E15 rule finalized in time for the 2019 driving season.