Great Lakes Wire

Critics are questioning whether President Joe Biden’s announcement that his administration will suspend the EPA ban on E15 gasoline this summer will work. 

"Today, I am announcing that the Environmental Protection Agency is planning to issue an emergency waiver to allow E15 gasoline — gasoline that uses more ethanol from home-grown crops — to be sold across the U.S. this summer in order to increase fuel supply and lower prices." President Biden wrote on Twitter.

E15, a type of gas that blends 15% ethanol and 85% gasoline, is expected to save drivers 10 cents per gallon, according to the White House.

The Drive reports that because E15 mitigates gas mileage for many vehicles, drivers will spend more on gas in the long run. The Drive states that its utilization could hurt car engines and is not worth saving 10 cents at the pump.   

The Clean Air Act had prohibited fueling up with E15 because it causes more pollution possibilities when it’s warm outside, according to NPR.

The news organization reported that as opposed to E10 gas, vendors have restricted facilities to sell E15 gasoline because they are not able to sell the product every day of the year. Roughly 2,300 gas stations across the country have E15 gas.

Additionally, ARS Technica states that E15 biofuel mix is known to add to smog.   

Currently, there are only 16 gas stations in Michigan that sell E15, according to E85prices.com, which examines substitute dynamics when it comes to fuel.

Earlier this month, President Biden announced his administration would release up to 180 million barrels of crude oil from the nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve over the next six months to help reduce rising gas prices.