Supreme Court Leaves 15% EPA’s Ethanol Allowance in Place, Rejecting Challenges

The U.S. Supreme Court left intact Environmental Protection Agency rules allowing higher concentrations of corn-based ethanol in gasoline, rejecting appeals from the grocery, auto and oil industries, Bloomberg News reported Monday.

The dispute centered on EPA rules allowing E15, a blend of unleaded gasoline that contains up to 15% ethanol.

EPA has approved E15 for cars and light trucks made for the model year 2001 and later. Most gasoline blends contain 10% ethanol.

The court let stand a federal appeals court ruling that said trade groups representing the industries lacked legal standing to press their challenges, Bloomberg reported.

The appeals court said the challengers had not shown their members would be injured by the rules. The groups contended that increased use of ethanol would push up the price of food and gasoline and harm vehicle engines, Bloomberg said.