President Joe Biden will allow the sale of E15 ethanol-mixed gas throughout the United States this summer, the White House said on Tuesday as part of measures to tackle the sharp rise in fuel prices in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. E15 gasoline, which is a blend of 15% ethanol, is banned in most US during the summer due to concerns about air pollution. However, the White House said that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to issue a national emergency exemption that will allow the sale of the E15 between June 1 and September 15. The White House said the E15 is on average $ 0.10 per gallon cheaper than other gases. Using more E15 will reduce prices and reduce dependence on foreign fuels, he said in a press release. The United States banned oil and gas imports from Russia on March 8, triggering a spike in world oil and oil prices. As of Tuesday, gasoline was costing an average of $ 4,098 per gallon in the US, according to the AAA. Prices have fallen below the $ 4,331 mark reached on March 11, but remain significantly higher than this period last year. “An emergency relief can help increase fuel supplies, give consumers more options for lower prices and save money for many families,” the White House said, adding that the EPA would work with states to ensure there will be no significant impact on air quality. But Lenny Rodriguez, an oil analyst at S&P Global, said the E15’s slightly lower energy content meant that “motorists will see lower mileage per gallon than usual and may need to refill their tanks more often.” The White House said the E15 is currently offered at 2,300 gas stations in the country, although S&P Global noted that these are mainly located in the Midwest. E10 gasoline, which has a lower ethanol concentration, is more widely available throughout the year, according to S&P Global. “Obviously we expect an increase in E15 sales this summer due to higher overall fuel consumption, higher availability of the E15 and E15 sold at a discount on the E10 at the pump,” said Corey Lavinsky, global biofuel analysis director at S&P Global Commodity Insights. he said. However, he noted that the additional volumes of ethanol sold during the summer if the exemption is applied “should be relatively small, about 25 million gallons”.
