The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has granted an emergency waiver to permit the sale of gasoline blended with 15% ethanol nationwide for the third consecutive summer. This decision comes in response to global conflicts, including Russia's actions in Ukraine and ongoing Middle East tensions, which are straining the world's fuel supply. The EPA cited these factors, along with reduced U.S. refining capacity, as reasons for the waiver.
While gasoline with a 10% ethanol blend is already widely available, the higher 15% blend was previously restricted during the summer months due to concerns about exacerbating smog levels in warm weather. However, the biofuels industry and politicians from ethanol-producing states in the Midwest have lauded the EPA's move, emphasizing the benefits of ethanol in supporting farmers, lowering fuel costs, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
