BISMARCK, N.D. – Gov. Doug Burgum today released the following statement after the Trump administration directed the Environmental Protection Agency to approve the sale of E15 ethanol-blended gasoline throughout the year.
“Today’s announcement from the Trump administration is good news for corn growers, ethanol producers and consumers across North Dakota and the nation. Working with farmers and the biofuels industry, we’ve advocated for lifting the ban on summertime sales of E15 because there is no sound, scientific basis for the seasonal restriction,” Burgum said. “Combined with increased transparency in the biofuels credit trading market, these significant policy changes will provide an expanded market for growers and increased stability for the industry. We thank President Trump for this action and look forward to an expeditious EPA rule-making process to allow E15 sales to begin next summer.”
Burgum, Gov. Pete Ricketts of Nebraska and Gov. Kim Reynolds of Iowa pushed for ending the E15 seasonal ban during a White House meeting in April with President Trump, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and other administration officials. Current policy allows E15 to be marketed from Sept. 16 through April 30. After the EPA rulemaking process, sales of E15 will be permitted year-round.