WASHINGTON, June 24, 2013 - The Supreme Court has decided not to hear the “E15 challenge” from American Petroleum Institute and other ethanol opponents, a decision that pleases the ethanol industry.
API and several other groups from oil and food production were leading a charge to challenge the EPA ruling allowing a 15 percent blend of ethanol. The most common blend of fuel is with a 10 percent blend, but the EPA allowed a 15 percent blend - without issuing any kind of usage mandate - in 2012.
Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy, said this is a good decision hopes it leads to more collaboration between oil and biofuel producers.
“The highest court in the land has spoken,” Buis said. “They have unequivocally rejected the attempts of Big Oil and other opponents of ethanol to challenge the EPA’s sensible decision to permit the sale of E15. Now that the final word has been issued, I hope that oil companies will begin to work with biofuel producers to help bring new blends into the marketplace that allow for consumer choice and savings.”
When the high court decided on Monday not to hear the case, they kept the ruling of the lower court in effect, which allows for the 15 percent blend. Buis said this decision is not only good for biofuels, but for the American economy as a whole.
“This was not just a victory for consumers, but also for America’s energy security, economy and environment,” Buis said on Monday. “As our industry continues to produce homegrown American fuels that reduce our dependence on foreign oil, we will also continue to create jobs that cannot be outsourced and drive research and investment, all while improving our environment and the quality of the air we breathe with a cleaner, sustainable fuel.”
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