US ethanol consumption officially breaks the blend wall

In Washington, the Energy Information Agency reported that the gasoline market has officially breached the blend well, blending 10.2% ethanol in the week ending September 23. Going beyond the 10% blend wall demonstrates use of higher blends such as E15 and E85. September 15 saw the end of a federal restriction on higher blends that also helped to boost ethanol consumption to surpass the psychological level. Blending 15% ethanol was approved by the EPA five years ago but uptake has been slow until recently thanks to programs like those to support blender pumps.