EPA Waives Summer E15 Sales Limits to Curb Fuel Prices

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced on Wednesday that it will temporarily waive restrictions on sales of E15 gasoline, a blend containing 15 percent ethanol, during the summer months to help curb rising fuel prices triggered by the ongoing conflict with Iran. The waiver, effective May 1, exempts E15 from federal volatility limits designed to reduce smog in warmer weather, allowing broader availability nationwide.

E15 sales are typically prohibited from June 1 to September 15 in many areas because the higher ethanol content increases the fuel's evaporation rate, contributing to ground-level ozone formation. The EPA's action aims to boost domestic fuel supply and provide consumers with a cheaper alternative to standard E10 gasoline, which contains 10 percent ethanol. According to the Renewable Fuels Association, E15 can cost 10 to 40 cents less per gallon, potentially easing the burden as the national average price for regular gasoline hit $3.98 on Wednesday, up more than $1 from a month earlier, per AAA data.

The decision reflects efforts to address supply disruptions from the Iran war, which has driven crude oil prices above $100 per barrel for the first time...