Lee Zeldin provides relief at the pump by issuing a temporary emergency fuel waiver for higher-volatility gasoline.
Administrator Lee Zeldin issued a temporary emergency fuel waiver allowing refiners to sell higher-volatility E10 gasoline starting September 1. The move, initiated by the EPA and the Department of Energy, aims to provide relief at the pump and fortify the nation's gasoline supply chain. While the waiver provides a two-week head start on cheaper blend stock, it is part of a continuous waiver campaign running since May 1. By loosening the volatility ceiling, refiners can blend in more butane, a cheap byproduct of natural gas processing. This mechanism allows for more 'new' supply without requiring additional crude oil. However, the waiver may cause vapor lock issues in older carbureted engines during hot starts. The administration announced the waiver while also framing higher prices in New York and California as a political choices by those states. This move highlights a trend of the agency using emergency authority to reshape policy faster than formal rulemaking allows.