(Houston) The American government decided Wednesday to ease environmental restrictions on fuel served at gas stations to moderate the surge in prices linked to the war in the Middle East.
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From the CERAWeek energy forum in Houston (Texas), the head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Lee Zeldin announced relaxation regarding the sale of type E15 gasoline (composed of 85% petroleum and 15% ethanol).
Usually, this is restricted during the summer for health reasons due to its increased effect on ozone levels and therefore air pollution.
“A temporary emergency waiver” has been issued, Mr. Zeldin said from Texas.
“Based on the information we have, we anticipate a risk of disruption of the fuel supply in the United States,” explained this close friend of President Donald Trump
“Without this action,” the EPA said in a statement, the cheaper E15 “could not be used by nearly half the country this summer.”
This is not the first time that the state agency has taken this type of exemption.
Parliamentarians are calling for authorizing the sale of E15 all year round, especially since ethanol is an important outlet for American growers.
At the pump, a gallon (3.78 liters) of basic gasoline now costs nearly four dollars on average, according to the latest data from the American Automobile Association (AAA), a dollar more than before the start of the war in the Middle East.
The American government, which started the conflict on February 28 by striking Iran alongside Israel, has taken several measures to limit the surge.
He suspended sanctions on Russian and Iranian oil, as well as a centuries-old law governing maritime transport in the United States.
It also said it had started putting some of its strategic reserves on the market as part of a coordinated effort with other countries.
