(Radio Iowa) – Two pro-ethanol groups are asking the Biden Administration to take immediate steps to expand market opportunities for E-15. Officials from the Iowa Corn Growers Association and the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association are leading the effort to promote the blend. Grant Menke, with the Corn Growers, says they met with cabinet members last week over high gas prices and forwarded a letter to President Biden. “It would be appropriate to showcase some of the benefits that biofuels could play in combating those high fuel prices,” Menke says. “We urged the administration to finalize the E-15 labeling rule and also allowing E-15 to be sold through E-10-approved underground storage tanks and dispensers.”

Menke says another important step the president must take involves restrictions on when the fuel is made available to the public. Menke says, “EPA should propose and finalize a rule to limit the volatility of gasoline blend stocks which would allow E-15 to be sold year-round.” A recent court ruling pushed E-15 sales back three years to where it can only be sold eight-and-a-half months out of the year. Menke says the climate solution the Biden administration is searching for is available through corn-based ethanol. “It reduces greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 50% compared to gasoline,” Menke says. “If we are serious about climate change, carbon reduction, cleaner air, now is the time to unleash the power of high-octane, low-cost E-15.”

He says there are more than three-billion gallons of ethanol production capacity that could be used to fight inflationary pressures.