Biden's 'symbolic' ethanol move will do little to help crunched consumers

President Joe Biden unveiled a new effort this week to lower gas prices by increasing reliance on ethanol until the fall, touting it as a way to fight inflation despite indications that the move will have a minimal impact on most people.

“I’m doing everything within my power by executive orders to bring down prices and address the Putin price hikes,” Biden said Tuesday at an event in Iowa, continuing to blame prices that began rising months ago on Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine.

Biden’s new measure would temporarily remove limits this year on when gas stations can sell an ethanol blend called E15, or fuel that is 15% ethanol and 85% gasoline. While a similar blend, E10, containing 10% ethanol can be sold year-round, the Environmental Protection Agency forbids the sale of E15 from June 1 through Sept. 15 annually over concerns that burning the fuel during the summer heat could worsen pollution.