Solutions Spotlight: A Q&A with Growth Energy | Article

As the United States aims to achieve net zero by 2050, decarbonizing the highest emitting sector, transportation, is a critical part of the path forward. Ethanol is a renewable, low-emission biofuel that is mixed with gasoline to provide fuel for vehicles. Growth Energy, a sponsor of EESI’s 2021 Congressional Clean Energy Expo and Policy Forum, represents the renewable fuel industry. EESI sat down with Chris Bliley, senior vice president of regulatory affairs at Growth Energy, to learn more about ethanol and its current and future role in the transportation sector.

EESI: Can you give an overview of who Growth Energy’s members are and how you work with members and stakeholders to advance biofuels?

Bliley: Growth Energy is the world's largest renewable fuel organization. We represent over 90 bioethanol producers in the United States, which accounts for more than 50 percent of the national production of ethanol. That is more than eight billion gallons of bioethanol. We also represent roughly the same number of associated businesses, which include enzyme producers, agricultural businesses, and other businesses in the ethanol production chain. We advocate for biofuels on the policy side in Washington, D.C., as well as in a number of states across the country and around the world. We promote biofuels, like ethanol, and the role they play in addressing climate change, air pollution, rural development, and economic growth.

EESI: How is biofuel going to play a role in the future of the transportation sector?

Bliley: I think it is important to recognize the role biofuels currently play—98 percent of the fuel used in the United States contains at least 10 percent ethanol (E10 blend), which reduces greenhouse gas emissions when compared to fossil fuels. We can continue to address greenhouse gas emissions, and a number of other pollutants, by advancing higher biofuel blends.

Today, E15 (an ethanol-gasoline blend that is 15 percent ethanol) is approved for all 2001 and newer light-duty vehicles, which accounts for 98 percent of the miles driven on U.S. roads. Currently, E15 is sold at roughly 2,500 locations in 30 states. If we moved to a 15 percent ethanol blend nationally, greenhouse gas emission would be reduced by 17 million tons each year, the equivalent of taking nearly 4 million cars off the road each year. And, it is a simple switch because E15 is already an approved fuel. Additionally, we have 20 million flex fuel vehicles on the road that can use any ethanol blend up to E85, so we need to encourage these vehicle owners to use higher ethanol blends.

Looking forward, as the United States addresses climate change, there is also an opportunity for mid-level ethanol blends—25 to 30 percent blends—to help automakers optimize their engines. Ethanol is one of the most affordable, clean octanes in the world, which allows automakers to make smaller engines that take advantage of the octane boost. So, not only do you get the greenhouse gas benefits of ethanol, but automakers can reduce the size of their engines, which increases engine efficiency.

EESI: Do you see ethanol and electric vehicles as complementary climate change mitigation strategies?

Bliley: Most estimates have at least 60 percent of the cars on the road using liquid fuels in the near future. To address climate change, the greenhouse gas emissions associated with today's liquid fuels need to be reduced, and one technology alone is not going to solve the problem. Even if the goal is to move towards electrification, liquid fuels will be in the transportation system for decades to come. Using higher ethanol blend fuels like E15, E25, and E85 and flex fuel vehicles is a chance to capture those greenhouse gas reduction benefits immediately, without relying on full changeover of infrastructure or the vehicle fleet. Biofuels should not be viewed as a thing of the past, they should be seen as a current and future technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

EESI: If E15 is approved for the majority of cars on the road, what are the most significant barriers to widespread adoption of it and other higher blend biofuels?

Bliley: Right now, we are working on availability. Consumers can get E15 for three to ten cents less per gallon than regular gasoline, so they are filling up when they have the opportunity to do so. Today E15 is at 2,500 locations, but there are about 150,000 total fuelling locations across the country. We have been making the case to retailers to offer E15, and I think they are starting to see that offering it may help bring in customers. We want to make it more available to consumers across the country, and that availability ties in with infrastructure. It is imperative that we do as much as possible to make E15 available through existing infrastructure to increase the number of retailers who want to offer it.

EESI: What federal policies would best advance renewable fuels?

Bliley: A recent DC Circuit court decision limits E15 sales in the summertime, so we want to be sure to get a solution to allow year-round sale of E15. Additionally, we want to ensure a strong renewable fuel standard now and into the future for the continued growth of higher biofuel blends. We continue to seek approval of pathways including for cellulosic biofuel from kernel fiber and strong tax policy to encourage biofuel development. Also, as we see more and more ethanol use around the globe, we’re working to remove tariff and non-tariff restrictions to give greater access to ethanol.

This article has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Author: Anna Roberts