EPA approves year-round E15 in the Midwest from April 2025

In Washington, the Environmental Protection Agency responded to petitions from eight state governors to remove the 1-psi (pound per square inch) waiver for gasoline-ethanol blends containing 10 percent ethanol (E10). The governors made their requests pursuant to Clean Air Act (CAA) section 211(h)(5), which provides that EPA shall remove the 1-psi waiver by regulation upon a demonstration by a governor that the 1-psi waiver increases emissions in their state.

After review of the modeling results presented by the governors in their petitions, on March 6, 2023, EPA proposed to remove the 1-psi waiver with an effective date of April 28, 2024—and sought comment on delaying the effective date to April 28, 2025—in the following eight states: Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

On March 21, 2023, EPA held a public hearing on the proposal, at which various perspectives on the proposed action were presented, and subsequently many comments were submitted to EPA on the proposed action. After the close of the public comment period, EPA also received numerous petitions to delay the proposed effective date of the removal of the 1-psi waiver.

Following review of public comments on the proposal and the extension petitions received, EPA is removing the 1-psi waiver and instead applying the 9.0 psi RVP (Reid Vapor Pressure) standard under CAA section 211(h)(1) effective April 28, 2025, in the following eight states: Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.