Court nixes year-round sales of gasoline with 15% ethanol

A federal appeals has thrown out a Trump-administration Environmental Protection Agency rule change that allowed sale of a 15% ethanol gasoline blend in the summer. "The decision deals a significant blow to the ethanol industry and corn farmers who grow the crop from which the fuel additive is made. They had anticipated increased ethanol demand through year-round sales of the higher blend," David Pitt reports for The Associated Press.

Most gasoline sold in the U.S. has 10% ethanol, but the EPA changed the rule in May 2019 to fulfill Trump's promises to Midwestern corn farmers. "Provisions of the Clean Air Act have prohibited the sale of certain fuels with a higher volatility from June 1 through Sept. 15 to limit smog," Pitt reports. "Congress has allowed 10% ethanol, and the EPA in its 2019 ruling revised the interpretation of the exemption to federal law to include the 15% ethanol blend."