U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack is calling on petroleum companies to help increase the percentage of ethanol in our gas tanks to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, boost job creation and promote development of renewable energy from farm-produced feedstocks. E15 was recently approved by EPA and Vilsack says its availability will increase America’s energy security and spur job creation.

A USDA news release says the EPA’s decision to allow the blending of up to 15-percent ethanol in gasoline is one of several steps needed from federal, state and industry to commercialize E15 gasoline blends. Vilsack says reaching the 36-billion gallons of renewable transportation fuel required by the Renewable Fuel Standard will mean the import of fewer barrels of oil – which means the wealth we currently transfer into other countries can be redirected into the creation of rural opportunities and jobs. He says increasing the amount of ethanol that is allowed to be blended in the fuel supply of cars to 15-percent is an important step in the effort to reach that goal.

To enable widespread use of E15 – the Obama Administration has a goal of helping fueling station owners install 10-thousand blender pumps over the next five years. The Department of Energy and USDA have also provided grants, loans and loan guarantees through the Recovery Act and the 2008 Farm Bill to spur American ingenuity on the next generation of biofuels.