U.S. approves 20 firms to make ethanol for E15

Reuters
WASHINGTON Mon Apr 2, 2012 6:18pm EDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Twenty companies, including Archer-Daniels-Midland Co and Cargill Inc, have been cleared to produce the new ethanol grade called E15, a significant step toward putting the higher blend biofuel on sale, the government announced on Monday.

Most fuel sold at filling stations is a 9-to-1 blend of gasoline and corn-based ethanol. The ethanol industry proposed E15, a 15 percent blend, three years ago.

The Environmental Protection Agency said it approved the first applications to register ethanol to make E15, "a significant step toward its production, sale and use" in cars and light trucks built since 2000. E15 is barred from use in light equipment or in older vehicles.

"Perhaps as early as summer we could see E15 at fuel stations in the heartland of America" said Bob Dinneen of the trade group Renewable Fuels Association.

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