EPA Moves Up Switch to Cheaper Winter Gasoline to Ease Pump Prices
EPA will allow E10 gasoline with higher volatility from Sept 1, two weeks early, to boost supply and lower prices.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on Thursday that it will permit the sale of a less expensive gasoline blend about two weeks earlier than usual, a move aimed at increasing fuel supply and reducing costs for consumers.
Starting September 1, the agency will allow the sale of E10 gasoline — which contains 10% ethanol — with a higher Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP). This measure, which measures volatility, is typically restricted during the summer months to curb evaporation and smog formation in warmer weather. The standard switch to winter blends usually occurs around September 15.
This regulatory adjustment comes as average U.S. pump prices for regular gasoline have climbed to $4.10 per gallon, according to AAA data, up from roughly $3.13 a year ago. The spike is attributed to the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, which has disrupted fuel markets.
The EPA's action also includes waiving certain state-level controls in Texas, Arizona, and California that extend beyond September 15, for the maximum allowable period of 20 days. The agency stated it will monitor gasoline supplies in these states and is prepared to extend the waiver if necessary to ensure adequate availability.
High fuel costs are seen as a political vulnerability for President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers ahead of the November midterm elections, where control of Congress is at stake. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who met with oil refiners in Midland, Texas, this week, indicated that further steps to manage fuel prices would be taken in the coming days.