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RFA-Sponsored Poll Finds National Support for E15 Year-Round Among Voters

Todd Neeley
By  Todd Neeley , DTN Staff Reporter
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A new Morning Consult poll of voters finds broad support for year-round E15 sales. (DTN file photo)

LINCOLN, Neb. (DTN) – With E15 sales set to end starting June 1 without action from the Biden administration or Congress, the Renewable Fuels Association released the results of a national poll that found voters support year-round sales continuing.

With retail gasoline prices still remaining elevated, the poll conducted by Morning Consult found nearly 70% of respondents support increasing the availability of E15 to help lower fuel prices and support energy independence. Just 13% of those surveyed said they did not support expanded E15 availability.

Morning Consult polled 1,978 registered voters between March 20 and March 23, across all demographics.

Recently members of Congress reintroduced legislation to allow E15 sales to continue year-round on a permanent basis.

Morning Consult found 62% of voters polled support the legislation. The poll conducted for the RFA found 15% of respondents do not support the legislation, with 23% saying they had no opinion.

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"We are pleased to see these new poll results, but not surprised," RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper said in a news release.

"They match what we observe every day. Drivers continue to embrace an American-made fuel that is more affordable and lower in carbon emissions. Simply put, consumers want greater access to E15. Last summer, E15 sold for 20 cents to 30 cents per gallon less than regular gasoline, on average, saving American families $3 to $5 every time they filled up. Those savings will disappear on June 1 unless our leaders in Washington take action. They need to act quickly to ensure that lower-cost E15 is available at the pump throughout the summer driving season."

In addition, the Morning Consult poll found:

-Ethanol favorability and support for the Renewable Fuel Standard have reached record highs. Sixty-nine percent of respondents say they have a favorable opinion of ethanol, while 66% support the RFS. The RFA said those are the highest numbers since baseline polling started in June 2016.

-The "Next Generation Fuels Act," which would establish a high-octane, low-carbon fuel standard, is supported by 64% of poll respondents, or an increase of four percentage points from December.

-Sixty-nine percent of respondents said they believe it to be important for the U.S. government to promote the production and sale of flex-fuel vehicles in the United States.

-Voters strongly oppose government mandates related to their vehicle purchase options. Banning the sale of new liquid-fueled vehicles with internal combustion engines is opposed by 61% of respondents, while mandating that buyers purchase electric vehicles is opposed by 63% of voters polled.

An October 2022 analysis found that allowing E15 sales in the summer of 2022 saved American drivers nearly $60 million.

Todd Neeley can be reached at todd.neeley@dtn.com

Follow him on Twitter @DTNeeley

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