The University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) published a study on the use of E30 in non-flex fuel vehicles in February 2021. The study involved 50 non-flex fuel vehicles that used varying levels of octane to show the contrast between ethanol and carbon dioxide emissions.
Results from the UNL study show that if 10% of Nebraska’s non-flex fuel vehicles switched from E10 to E30, carbon dioxide emissions would decrease by 64,000 tons per year.
These numbers echoed throughout the ethanol industry, igniting a call to action in some Midwestern states.
South Dakota Weighs In
Marcy Kohl, director of communications and corporate affairs at Glacial Lakes Energy in South Dakota, says her team is well aware of E30’s benefits and they’re pushing for the state to maximize on those opportunities.
“By fueling the state’s fleet with E-30, you save $6 for every 15 gallons of fuel. What does that mean for the South Dakota taxpayer?” Kohl asked. “We’ve been trying to put that pressure on Noem, but she won’t return our calls. We are asking her to support local agriculture, ethanol and the South Dakota economy by fueling the fleet with E-30.”
South Dakota wasn’t the only state to catch wind of Nebraska’s ethanol study. After being published, the results quickly made their way to The Hill.
New Legislation Puts the Wheel in Motion
In August 2021, numerous Representatives backed the Next Generation Fuels Act of 2021, which aims to “promote low-carbon, high-octane fuels, to protect public health, and to improve vehicle efficiency and performance,” according to the bill.
Included in the legislation are requirements for:
1. Manufacturers to design vehicles with E20 blend capabilities in their non-flex fuel vehicles by 2026, and E30 blends by 2031.
2. Fuel retailers to offer the respective higher-octane options as the non-flex fuel vehicles are made available to the public.
Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL), who led the bill’s introduction, says this legislation important because it will “bring an environmental lens to biofuels production” by reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality.
While this bill remains in the introduction phase in the House, various Senators moved to introduce the same bill in the Senate on Tuesday.
“Unstable gas prices have left many families – especially rural families – with a lot of budget uncertainty,” said Senator Grassley (R-IA). “As we look to the future of liquid fuels, this legislation can play a critical role in restoring energy independence, saving consumers money, lowering carbon emissions and expanding the market for farmers and ethanol producers.”
More on biofuels:
What Is the Ethanol Sweet Spot? Up The “E”
EPA Faces Lawsuit for Ethanol’s Impacts on Endangered Species
EPA Proposes New Rules on RFS, Finalizes Biofuel Blending Requirements
John Phipps: It’s Now Less About the Supply of Oil, And More About Refining Capacity in the U.S.
