Gov. Doug Burgum today released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized action to allow the year-round sale of gasoline blended with up to 15 percent ethanol, and to boost transparency and deter price manipulation by reforming the renewable identification number (RIN) compliance system under the EPA’s Renewable Fuel Standard Program.
“This is positive news for consumers, corn growers and the ethanol industry across North Dakota and the entire country,” Burgum said. “We’re grateful to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler, Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and the Trump administration for following through on the President’s promise to lift the ban on summertime sales of E15, which will increase consumer choice, promote American energy independence and support our nation’s farmers. When combined with improved transparency in the biofuels credit trading market, these major policy changes will expand the market for growers and provide more stability for industry.”
Burgum joined other governors in pushing for ending the E15 seasonal ban during a White House meeting in April 2018 with President Trump, Secretary Perdue and other administration officials. Previous policy allowed E15 to be marketed only from Sept. 16 through April 30.