President Joe Biden and US Congresswomen Cindy Axne visited the POET Bioprocessing facility in Menlo Tuesday and announced the administration will lift the ban on sales of E15 this summer. 

Biden said making E-15 biofuels available for use year round will make trips to the gas pump cheaper for hard working Americans, cut down on emissions, create competition and reduce the dependence on foriegn oil. 

“You simply can’t get to net zero (emissions) by 2050 without biofuel.”

POET Vice President Corporate of Affairs Doug Berven said E-15 is going to produce more demand for corn and stabilize prices for farmers around the country. He explains the bio ethanol industry now buys about 35 percent of the US corn crop on an annual basis and as yields increase, markets need to do the same and E-15 does that. Berven states that this announcement is good for farmers and rural communities.

“Bioethanol in the past has rejuvenated rural America. There’s 210 ethanol plants around the country. Every one of them produces about $200 million of economic incentive or economic impact for the local community that has just rejuvenated rural America dramatically.”

Berven said they were honored to host the President of the United States and adds this announcement is great for consumers facing record high gas prices. To see pictures of the President’s trip to Menlo scroll down.