Gov. Pritzker and governors from seven other Midwest states are asking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Thursday for a permanent waiver that will allow each state to continue selling ethanol blended gas year-round without restriction.
The EPA’s decision last week to suspend restrictions of summer sales of the lower-carbon, lower-cost E15 gasoline is temporary and only applies to the 2022 summer driving season.
E15 is usually prohibited between June 1 and Sept. 15 because of concerns that it adds to smog in high temperatures.
The bipartisan group of governors sent a joint letter to EPA Administrator Michael Reagan formally requesting the waiver.