By Thomas Catenacci
President Joe Biden’s action this week to address record-high gasoline prices will have a bare minimum impact on consumers, saving some American families a few dollars a month.
Biden issued an emergency waiver Tuesday allowing gas stations nationwide to sell gasoline with 15% ethanol, pausing a federal environmental regulation that prohibits the corn-based biofuel mixture during the summer months to limit smog.
An E85 (85% ethanol) gas pump at a fueling station.
American consumers are currently facing record-high pump prices and soaring inflation at levels not seen since 1981.
“We’re leaning on you, our farmers, our biofuel refiners,” the president said during remarks at an ethanol facility in Iowa on Tuesday.
“It’s not going to solve all our problems, but it’s going to help some people,” Biden continued. “And I’m committed to doing whatever I can to help. Even if it’s an extra buck or two in the pockets when they fill up, it’ll make a difference in people’s lives.”
However, just 2,300 of the nation’s 150,000 gas stations—or roughly 1.5%—sell E15 gasoline, according to a White House fact sheet issued prior to Biden’s remarks. Stations offering ethanol-heavy fuels are primarily located in the Midwest and Northeast, Department of Energy data showed.
“Instead of unleashing the American energy industry to lower gas prices and using American corn to help make up for global grain shortages, Biden’s policy of burning more food for fuel will keep gas prices high and reduce food supplies,” Steve Milloy, a senior legal fellow at the Energy & Environment Legal Institute, said in a statement shared with the Daily Caller News Foundation.
“By the way, ethanol is less efficient than gasoline, reduces gas mileage and so costs consumers more than conventional gasoline,” Milloy added. “We know Joe Biden will do anything to avoid unleashing the U.S. energy industry, but this move inexcusably risks global food supplies.”
American drivers traveled 14,263 miles per year or 1,189 miles per month in 2019, according to Federal Highway Administration data analyzed by Kelley Blue Book. Based on the Federal Highway Administration data and average mileage of vehicles in 2021, Americans use about 33 gallons a month.
Overall, the White House said the action, which will be in effect during the three-and-a-half-month period between June 1-Sept. 15, would save Americans purchasing E15 about 10 cents a gallon, a 2.5% discount off the current average price of gasoline.
That means Biden’s action will save consumers with access to the few U.S. stations selling E15 about $3.30 per month.
E15 gasoline is also less efficient and contains less energy than E10 fuel, allowing it to be cheaper, according to the Energy Department. Cars running on E10 will travel about 1% to 2% farther than those running on E15.
By comparison, inflation is costing American families an average of $327 a month, according to an analysis from Moody’s Analytics released Wednesday.
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Stupid is as stupid does, he’s raising the price of corn which will make meat even
more expensive to produce fuel that’s more harmful to engines and will make the
gallon of gas go fewer miles.. can we get a cognitive test now and force him to
revel who his handlers are.
OK, let me get this straight…
I can save 2% on the price but I will get 2% lower miles per gallon?
The farmers are going to have to burn more diesel to make the ethanol, almost a wash?
How do we save anything?
Here’s what Biden’s 15% ethanol plan is really about: Creating a corn shortage. Farmers are faced with 2x diesel prices and 4x fertilizer prices, , and many of them are switching from corn to soy, which will in turn, cause a glut in soy, and result in a drop in soy prices. The faster Biden can deplete the corn supply, the faster corn will be in short supply, and the higher corn and ethanol prices will soar. Our national strategic oil reserves are also being depleted. Expect gas, diesel and home heating oil to get very expensive. This is all designed to drive us into The Green New Deal, ie; The Great Reset.
Biden’s plans for the outcomes of his governing are purely why he is in the can with a 36% approval rating. His plans are just not where the heartbeat of America is at, with a few exceptions but very few. And he can’t figure this out? Anyone who is this slow, should not be President.
I believe unless there is a massive turnaround between now and election day, he will get a message that will relate to the relevance of the heartbeat, loud and clear. Not paying attention to the what the voters are saying will resonate, and as always the voters have the last word. Jimmy Carter reincarnated.
The next logical step (in Biden’s world) is to have all of the 10% ethanol pumps “upgraded” to 15%. This will divide drivers into two groups: those that will buy the more expensive ethanol-free gas to avoid mechanical difficulties, and those that will damage their car’s engine and components. As with most Biden mandates, it’s a lose-lose proposition.