Just this week, U.S. EPA did propose a rule that would allow sales of gasoline with a higher ethanol blend in certain Midwest states, but noted that the rule would take effect in summer 2024, a year later than the governors had requested.
Last year, Ohio Farm Bureau, Ohio Corn & Wheat Growers Association and Ohio Ethanol Producers Association sent a letter to Gov. Mike DeWine asking him to notify U.S. EPA that Ohio wishes to implement the sale of E15 year-round. Currently, E15, or sometimes called Unleaded 88, cannot be sold year-round due to outdated restrictions on vapor pressure at the pump. The governor, along with several other Midwest governors, made that request in a letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan in 2022.
Just this week, U.S. EPA did propose a rule that would allow sales of gasoline with a higher ethanol blend in certain Midwest states, but noted that the rule would take effect in summer 2024, a year later than the governors had requested.
“This delay by the EPA would mean even fewer choices at the pump for Ohio consumers and takes one of the lowest cost options for fuel out of the equation this summer,” said Brandon Kern, senior director of state and national policy with Ohio Farm Bureau. “Offering E15 throughout the year has given substantial relief to Ohioans’ budgets when they have needed it most. We encourage EPA to reconsider their proposal, and we appreciate Governor DeWine’s efforts to offer E15 year-round to help consumers at the pump and increase demand for corn grown by farmers across Ohio.”
During fuel supply disruptions last year, the EPA was told by President Joe Biden to use existing agency authority to prevent a disruption in E15 availability between June 1 and Sept. 15. That move increased the nation’s fuel supply and put an average of 16 cents per gallon back in the pockets of Americans.
A bipartisan group of senators, including Ohio’s Sherrod Brown, are asking the president to take that same action again this year.
“If the administration is committed to providing access to year-round E15 in the long term, they shouldn’t let EPA rulemaking delays prevent it from being offered this summer,” Kern said.
As the event wrapped up, ODOT representatives expressed an interest in having Ohio Farm Bureau at the table when future projects are considered.
Read More
Under HB 397, notice must be given by Sept. 1 to terminate a farm lease, and the lease will terminate at the conclusion of harvest or Dec. 31, whichever comes first.
Read More
Thanks to the work of Ohio Farm Bureau members through the organization’s Action Alert process, the budget will avert the potential negative impacts of a proposed property tax policy change.
Read More
Ohio Farm Bureau supports Issue 1. This FAQ answers questions about what this initiative means to agriculture.
Read More
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 9-0 that the EPA went too far with its enforcement of the Clean Water Act.
Read More
As a result of the Federal Milk Marketing Forum, delegates at the 2023 American Farm Bureau Annual Convention adopted policies to guide the organization’s work on the dairy pricing front.
Read More
On this Ohio Farm Bureau Podcast, hear from Ohio Farm Bureau members who took part in the American Farm Bureau Federal Milk Marketing Order Forum, which resulted in some positive conversations and new policy for dairy pricing moving forward.
Read More
Included in HB 1 is the elimination of the 10% property tax rollback, which is a significant concern for Farm Bureau members.
Read More
Soil and water tests are being developed and conducted, site run-off monitoring is taking place, and livestock have shown no signs of illness or lingering effects from the aftermath of the derailment itself or the chemical burn-off that followed.
Read More
EPA would like to delay the sale of E15 year-round until summer 2024.
Read More
