At Trump’s Directive, EPA Announces Year-Round E15 Availability

(WASHINGTON, DC) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposed regulatory change that would allow gasoline blended with up to 15 percent ethanol (E15) to be sold year-round. On Tuesday, EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler explained that in addition to the expansion of E15 sales, the agency was also proposing to modify elements of the renewable identification number (RIN) compliance system under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program to enhance transparency in the market and deter price manipulation. Proposed reforms to RIN markets would include prohibiting certain parties from being able to purchase separated RINs; requiring public disclosure when RIN holdings exceed specified thresholds; limiting the length of time a non-obligated party can hold RINs, and; increasing the compliance frequency of the program from once annually to quarterly. Wheeler says that the EPA will welcome public comment on the proposal and intends to hold a public hearing on March 29th.