Ohio Seeks E15 Delay From Trump EPA

Ohio Governor Seeks Delay in Year-Round E15 Implementation, Cites Petroleum Concerns

Todd Neeley
By  Todd Neeley , DTN Environmental Editor
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Ohio Governor Mike DeWine asked the Trump administration to delay the implementation of year-round E15 in the state. (DTN file photo by Chris Clayton)

LINCOLN, Neb. (DTN) -- Ohio Republican Governor Mike DeWine has asked the Trump administration to delay the implementation of year-round E15 in the state to 2026, citing concerns raised by the petroleum industry in the state.

DeWine made the request to James Payne, acting administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in a Jan. 24, 2025, letter.

The Biden EPA finalized a rule on Feb. 22, 2024, to allow eight Midwest states to permanently sell E15 year-round -- delaying implementation to April 28, 2025. In addition to Ohio, the request was granted to Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

DeWine said in the letter to the EPA that his state appreciated the emergency waiver granted to Ohio to use E15 in the summer months during the past three years.

"The emergency waivers granted for the last three summers highlight the importance of a nationwide approach to the provision of E15," the letter said.

"My previous correspondence on this issue has consistently advocated for a federal legislative solution that eliminates the state-by-state approach and reduces risks of supply disruptions and the creation of 'fuel islands.' As a federal legislative fix has not come to fruition, we have continued to hear concerns from Ohio's petroleum industry about their ability to install the necessary infrastructure to comply with the federal rule by the effective date. Therefore, I am requesting another delay until no earlier than spring of 2026."

Petroleum interests have asked for delays in implementing year-round E15 in the states because of concerns about meeting supply needs in those states.

Fuel retailers in those states would be required to produce two new fuel types -- regular and premium. Because gasoline distribution systems are connected across the country, the changes in the eight states are expected to affect fuel quality and supply across the country.

The new EPA rule allows states to use the same volatility limitation for both E15 and E10 -- essentially putting E10 and E15 on the same footing.

Among the eight states included in the rule are the top five ethanol-producing states: Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, South Dakota and Minnesota. The sixth-highest ethanol production state, Indiana, is not among the states that requested the permanent waiver.

E15 has had a complicated time getting to year-round use, even with just eight states now allowed year-round sales.

Trump in his first administration approved year-round E15 in 2019 with EPA immediately approving the action. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia threw out the Trump rule in 2021, stating EPA had exceeded its authority following a lawsuit from the petroleum industry. That led to the Biden administration granting emergency fuel waivers for year-round sales for the past two years.

Read more on DTN:

"States Oppose EPA's E15 March Proposal," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

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

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Todd Neeley

Todd Neeley
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