Ethanol Producers Support E-15 Allowance Request

(MERRILL, IA) At midnight the EPA will stop taking public comment on a request to increase ethanol blend levels in gasoline up to 15%. Two Siouxland ethanol producers say the E-15 allowance is the next step in producing the fuel of the future. Growth energy is a coalition of 54 ethanol manufacturers across the country. They hope the EPA will approve the E-15 allowance, which is not a mandate. Rather, it would make it available for those who want to use it. Plymouth Energy in Merrill, Iowa turns food from Midwest farmers into fuel."5% of the US corn crop is raised within a 50-mile radius of Merrill, Iowa here," says David Hoffman, Plymouth Energy President and CEO.Hoffman says E-15 is a stepping stone to E-20 and E-30."Sometimes that 25-30% actually gives the best fuel mileage," says Hoffman.Plus it would cut exhaust emissions even more than E-10, which already reduces them by 30%."The biggest thing it's going to do, I think for us, and as Americans is really reduce greenhouse gasses. And if we get from E-10 to E-15, you're looking at a reduction of about 20 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions," says Joel P. Jarman, Poet Biorefining General Manager.But those in the oil business are afraid E-15 will cut into profit margins. "Ethanol - we've taken away 10-11 billion gallons. We could possibly take more," says Jarman. But Jarman believes the government mandate is on gas, not ethanol."If you really look at it, it's more about a 90% gasoline mandate right now. So, more than people thinking it's an ethanol mandate," says Jarman.Hoffman says farmers have doubled corn yields in the past 30 years."The US has a very efficient model to make this energy. And we think in the future that corn yields could double again," says Hoffman.Increasing ethanol producers' profits and blenders' benefits."The government has a 45 cent per gallon blender's credit," says Hoffman.Both Hoffman and Jarman believe E-15 is the key to keeping the future of fuel in America. The EPA has until December 1st to make a decision about the E-15 allowance. You can learn more about the ethanol blend at www.goE15.com.