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Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a new initiative to expand the use of biofuels like E15 across the country. In response, NMMA called the effort shortsighted, warning that more E15 in the marketplace will only compound problems consumers are currently facing at their local gas station.

The new proposal – which follows the administration’s decision earlier this year to lift the summertime ban on E15 sales – seeks to pump more than 15 billion gallons of ethanol into the nation’s fuel supply beginning in 2020. To help achieve this, one of the options the administration is considering is permitting retailers to use the same fuel tanks to store both E10 and E15 – a move that will create more challenges and confusion for America’s 141 million boaters.

While a final decision is pending, the administration’s action makes it clear that they are continuing to explore ways to increase the volume of ethanol in the nation’s fuel supply. NMMA will continue to monitor the situation and educate policymakers on the dangers of expanding the availability of E15.

For more information, please contact NMMA senior vice president of government and legal affairs, Nicole Vasilaros at [email protected] or NMMA director of federal government relations, Callie Hoyt at [email protected].