The Biden administration gives a green light to a fuel that could be even dirtier than regular gas

Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images

The White House announced today that the Biden administration wants to use a fuel that is dirtier than regular gasoline. In order to allow the year-round sale of E15 in the US, the Environmental Protection Agency will have to issue an emergency waiver.

E15 is a gasoline blend that is made with plant material. The move is supposed to save Americans money and reduce their dependence on foreign oil.

The majority of gasoline in the US is mixed with something. The summer ban was put in place due to the concern that more pollution might be caused by more use of fuel made from corn. The amount of pollutants entering the atmosphere could be increased by the added boost of ethanol. During the sunnier summer months, pollutants react with sunlight to create more smog. Growing corn to make fuel can cause more greenhouse gas emissions.

The EPA will work with states to make sure there are no significant air quality impacts during the summer driving season.

Fans of E15 have argued for years that the fuel isn't worse for air quality than other gasoline blends. Both Democrats and Republicans have recently introduced bills that would remove restrictions on E15. A federal court blocked the Trump administration from rolling back the summertime ban.

The costs savings with E15 are a topic of debate. According to the White House fact sheet, E15 can save consumers ten cents per gallon of gasoline. It might be cheaper, but it has less energy than gasoline. The slight loss in fuel efficiency that comes with a higher portion of ethanol in the fuel has to be offset by the low costs at the pump.

E15 is not very popular in the US. It is only sold in 2,300 gas stations in 30 states. That could change. The fact sheet distributed by the Biden administration states that the EPA is considering additional action to facilitate the use of E15 year-round.

The Administration's strategy to spur the development of home grown fuels is critical to expanding Americans' options for affordable fuel in the short-term and to building real energy independence in the long-term by reducing our reliance on fossil fuels.