SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KTIV) -
The national average for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is now $3.52. Some experts are predicting you'll pay four dollars a gallon this summer.
According to Triple-A, in Siouxland, the average price of regular unleaded gas isn't that far off the national average. In Iowa it's $3.46 a gallon. Nebraska's is about $3.51. And, South Dakota has the cheapest gas, $3.43 a gallon.
If you want to avoid paying too much at the pump, the ethanol blend E15 might be for you. For years, advocacy groups have tried to offer it at pumps across the country. They say, compared to unleaded gasoline, it could save US drivers millions of dollars a day.
But there's a problem, most cars can't get it yet.
Gary Gomez puts whatever is cheapest into his Dakota Electric trucks.
"I'd put in water if I could," he said.
With E10 he pays $100 to fill up, a price he has to pass on to his customers.
"I've got to put it on the customers, they've got to pay it on a surcharge," said Gomez
But there's another option out there that could help folks like Gary, gas stations offering E15. That's 15% ethanol, 85% gasoline, and according to advocates, a big saver at the pumps.
"We might see stuff that's $.14 to $.16 less per gallon than straight unleaded gasoline," said Senior Vice President of the American Coalition for Ethanol Ron Lamberty.
The blend has got caught behind government red tape, though. Lamberty says the Environmental Protection Agency will only allow it to be used for light duty trucks, cars and SUV's made 2001 and after. Plus, before E15 can be readily available, Lamberty says the EPA will need to complete a study to determine its health effects.
"That health effects study has to be done, and then we'd be ready to go ahead and put it in gas stations," he said.
KTIV contacted the EPA Thursday. Here was their response.
"E15 is not registered with EPA and is therefore not legal for distribution or sale as a transportation fuel. However, EPA is committed to continuing this science based approach to bring more renewable fuels to the market," said EPA Spokesperson Chris Lancaster.
