NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD-TV) — The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is continuing its push for broader uses of E15. With a bumper corn crop on the horizon, the industry group has its sights set on California, where drivers use more than a billion gallons of ethanol annually.
“California, as I think most people know, has been 10% ethanol for two decades now, and it’s important to note that they are the second-largest state as far as gasoline consumption, and consumes over a billion-and-a-half gallons of ethanol each year,” explained Robert White, RFA Senior Vice President of Industry Relations & Market Development. “When we look at the opportunity and market opportunity for ethanol to move from 10% to 15%, it’s a huge market. In fact, almost 267 million bushels of corn, or 800 million gallons of ethanol. In fact, last week, a hauler of ethanol said, ‘When can I move another 2 million gallons a day?’”
White said boosting California’s blend to 15 percent would also help utilize more of this year’s large corn harvest.
“When we’re looking at the corn crop we have in the field, or coming out of the field as we speak, and the state of the ethanol industry, and how much we’re looking for another market or market expansion — California is a perfect example of something that’s right in front of us, and we’re just trying to get it to the finish line,” White said.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has until October 12 to sign a bill passed by the state legislature that would allow E15 sales in the state.
Currently, California is the only U.S. State that does not permit the sale of E15 during at least some parts of the year. So far, the EPA has approved eight states for year-round sales of the biofuel.
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