Vanderwende: There is a bipartisan way to protect air, agriculture and tourism

By Rep. Jesse Vanderwende

Rep. Jesse Vanderwende is a Republican who represents Bridgeville.

In Delaware, every summer is a great financial opportunity thanks to our incredibly strong tourism appeal, This represents an economic output of approximately $4.5 billion per year and creates jobs for more than 50,000 residents. Every year, 10 million or more tourists come to our state to visit our pristine beaches, our beautiful state parks and more, and they have one thing in common: Almost every one of those 10 million comes to Delaware by car.

Since the majority of our tourists travel south from the tri-state area or north from Maryland, the District of Columbia and Virginia, the price of gasoline is critical to Delaware’s tourism economy. And we’ve clearly seen that when gasoline prices rise, fewer visitors stay in Delaware’s hotels, visit Delaware’s bars and restaurants and take advantage of our famous tax-free shopping.

Unfortunately, a misguided federal law is keeping gasoline prices artificially higher than necessary, threatening Delaware’s tourism economy and other important industries across the state. A little-known, obscure section of the Clean Air Act prohibits the sale of E15 gasoline, a renewable fuel that is 85% petroleum and 15% ethanol, during the summer months, the absolute peak season for our tourism industry.

E15 gasoline is 85% petroleum and 15% ethanol, a product of corn plants that, when mixed with petroleum, makes a cleaner, cheaper fuel. E15 is also about 25 cents per gallon cheaper than E10, the 10% ethanol fuel most Americans use today. However, E15 is often as much as $1 per gallon cheaper, which for a potential visitor from out of state can mean the difference between making the road trip to Delaware or staying home.

But cost is not the only benefit of E15 petrol. In fact, E15 is a renewable fuel that reduces greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles by up to 40% and actually improves air quality.

Delaware’s agricultural and farming communities also strongly support year-round sales of E15. In fact, Delaware Farm Bureau President William Powers recently came out strongly in favor of changing this outdated policy.

But it’s not just certain industries that would benefit. Without tourism, every household in Delaware would pay $1,764 more in taxes each year, according to the Delaware Tourism Office. So year-round sales of E15 also directly contribute to significantly reducing the tax burden on Delaware families.

This year, the Environmental Protection Agency granted an exemption for summer sales of E15, but the annual uncertainty about whether sales can take place is hurting Delaware’s economy in several ways.

Fortunately, there is rare bipartisan support in Congress to finally resolve this issue, and the impact on Delaware would be enormous. Year-round sales of E15 would protect our tourism economy, keep gasoline prices low, and support our important agriculture industry, all while protecting the environment.

As Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Senator Tom Carper (D-Delaware), who has long championed our state’s agriculture and tourism industries while also making environmental protection and everyday economic issues facing Delaware families a top priority, is best positioned to address this issue.

Senator Carper can further build on his proud tradition of achieving bipartisan solutions by working with Senators from both sides of the aisle to enable permanent, year-round sales of E15 fuel before his retirement in January 2025, a worthy addition to his long record of legislative success on behalf of our great state.

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