WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), a longtime member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today issued the following statement regarding the Biden administration’s decision to allow the summertime sale of E15 fuel:

“As I have repeatedly made clear to the Biden administration, biofuels are a common-sense, readily available energy solution that should be utilized to their full potential,” said Thune. “I’m glad the president listened to my repeated calls to extend E15 fuel sales through the summer, which is the right move to give American drivers a lower-cost option at the gas pump. Higher blends of home-grown ethanol enhance our energy security, lower emissions, and provide a vital market for South Dakota farmers. I will continue to press for biofuels to play a significant role in a truly all-of-the-above energy strategy and work toward making E15 fuel a permanent fixture at gasoline retailers across the country.”

Thune, an ardent supporter of higher ethanol blends like E15 fuel, recently led a bipartisan group of his colleagues in urging President Biden to permit the year-round sale of E15 fuel in 2023 to help reduce the United States’ reliance on foreign sources of energy and utilize American agriculture as an energy solution. Thune has also introduced bipartisan legislation to fully recognize the greenhouse gas reductions achieved by modern biofuels and a bill to approve advanced renewable fuel technologies and further lower biofuel emissions. Thune is also an original cosponsor of a bill that would permanently allow for the sale of higher fuel blends like E15.