April 28, 2023

Duckworth Applauds Biden Administration Decision to Sell E15 Gasoline During Summer Driving Season, Helping Cut Cost of Gas for Working Families

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement in response the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s announcement that the U.S. will temporarily allow the sale of E15 gasoline during the driving season this summer to help lower costs for working Americans while providing a cleaner, more affordable option at the pump:

“I’m glad President Biden heeded our call to help lower prices at the pump for working families by allowing for the sale of E15 fuel during the coming summer months through this temporary waiver. I hope we can make this change permanent so that this fuel can continue being a cheaper, cleaner alternative that helps us reduce reliance on foreign oil while bringing down gas prices for working families across the country. By investing in homegrown biofuels like E15, not only will families be able to keep more money in their pockets, but it will also strengthen our nation and drive economic opportunity. Committing to our agriculture industry and supporting our Midwest farmers is a critical element of our transition to lower emissions. I’m glad that the President acted to strengthen and support renewable fuel in the same week House Republicans voted to betray Midwest farmers.”

In the Senate, Duckworth has been a leader in supporting biofuels, including sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). To help increase the availability of E15 biofuels, Duckworth helped introduce the bipartisan Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act and the bipartisan Next Generations Fuel Act to allow the year-round, nationwide sale of ethanol blends higher than 10 percent. Duckworth additionally helped introduced the bipartisan Home Front Energy Independence Act to ban Russian oil and expand use and production of biofuel that’s grown in the American heartland, while providing American families with a less expensive option to fuel their vehicles. The Senator also created a pilot project in last year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to promote the use of SAF at military installations and will continue to increase these efforts to expand the use on biofuels whenever possible.

-30-