Burnsville, Feb 22 - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today approved a petition by eight midwestern governors - including Minnesota’s Gov. Tim Walz - providing for year-round E15. The rule, however, will not go into effect until April 28, 2025. 

“After two years of waiting, the EPA has finally approved the permanent year-round sale of E15 in eight Midwestern states - including Minnesota. We sincerely appreciate Gov. Walz’s efforts to ensure that Minnesota was included in the petition and thank members of our congressional delegation, including Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Rep. Angie Craig, that pushed the EPA to take this action. That work has secured long-term access to a more environmentally-friendly, cheaper fuel for Minnesotans and will strengthen the economy of the state.

“While this is welcomed news, the EPA’s delay in finalizing this action means that it won’t go into effect until summer 2025, and Minnesotans won’t have access to the lowest cost fuel at the pump this summer. The EPA must now similarly act on emergency waivers this summer so that sales of E15 - and the resulting cost savings to consumers - aren’t interrupted unnecessarily,” said Brian Werner, executive director at the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association. 

In April of 2022, governors from Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin asked the EPA to remove the 1-PSI reid vapor pressure (RVP) waiver for E10, which would eliminate the current disparity between E10 and E15 and place both fuels on equal regulatory footing in the summer months.