The Advanced Biofuels Business Council told the Senate Environment Committee that year-round sales of E15 would widen the market for cellulosic ethanol, made from gasses and woody plants, reported DTN. At present, E15, a 15 percent mix of ethanol and gasoline, cannot be sold during the summer because of air pollution rules.
The biofuel industry backs a bill to waive the federal regulation against sales during the hottest months of the year. The industry says research shows that higher blends do not lead to faster evaporation of gasoline. “This bill is important to get demand for the fuel,” said Brooke Coleman of the advanced biofuels group. E15 is the easiest way to boost sales, he said, because the EPA has approved the fuel for vehicles built after 2001.
Jonathan Lewis of the group Clean Air Task Force said summer-time sale of E15 would lead to more production of corn ethanol and a larger release of greenhouse gases.