The Feds Plan To Start Diluting Gasoline This May: Explained

Key Points:

• The EPA under Lee Zeldin has approved a temporary nationwide waiver allowing E15 fuel (15% ethanol blend) sales from May 1 to May 20, aiming to reduce fuel prices amid global energy supply concerns due to Middle East and Ukraine conflicts.
• E15 is cheaper than the standard E10 (10% ethanol) but has lower energy content, leading to a 1.5% to 2% drop in fuel economy for most vehicles; it may also cause increased smog formation during summer months, which is why it is usually banned from June to September.
• While most post-2001 vehicles can safely use E15, older cars and small engines (like lawnmowers and boats) may suffer damage from higher ethanol content due to its solvent properties and water absorption.
• The EPA is also temporarily removing state-specific "boutique fuel" requirements to create a unified national gasoline pool, simplifying fuel production but potentially affecting local emissions standards.
• Consumers should be cautious when selecting fuel at the pump, as E15 is often sold as "Unleaded 88," which is an octane rating, not an ethanol percentage, and may not be suitable for all vehicles.