Governor J.B. Pritzker has announced that his administration is using the temporary waiver by the U.S. EPA to allow the sale of high volatility gasoline to be sold through September 15th in response to the Whiting, Indiana BP refinery fire.
President of the Illinois Corn Growers Association Marty Marr says the waiver also means that Illinois corn farmers will provide the needed fuel through their ethanol production, which is a lower emission alternative to gasoline.
“We can allow the infrastructure that is already here in the bio-fuel industry, ethanol, and soy diesel and such it can really help support our grain markets but it will also add to our fuel security. It is really proof positive that this transitional period of maybe going to EV (electric vehicle) is maybe going to take longer than everyone thinks it is.”
Marr says that the Fall corn harvest is looking good for both size and prices in Illinois. He says by having E-15 stay on the market, it will help lobby the federal government to keep it as a permanent fuel option.
Marr believes E-15 will be a bridge from gasoline to electric vehicles, and he says it has also opened up conversations for using ethanol as a possible future fuel source for power plants as the country continues its switch to greener energy sources.
