ATLANTA — Georgia Department of Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper announced the state’s adoption of a federal fuel waiver to help ease pressure on gas prices.
The waiver increases the availability of ethanol and ends the summer fuel blend early.
Harper said the Environmental Protection Agency released the waiver on Aug. 20 in an attempt to ease gas price pressures and in recognition of “extreme and unusual fuel supply disruptions.”
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Gas prices remain high, with the national average at $4.0997, according to AAA. Georgia’s average gas price is at $3.8018, down slightly from a week ago.
The action is intended to ensure “fuel liquidity and prevent supply bottlenecks” across Georgia’s distribution channels.
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The EPA waiver allows the state Agriculture Department’s Fuel & Measures Division to permit gasoline with 9-15% ethanol from Aug. 29 to Aug. 31. It also allows an early transition to winter-grade gas.
But there’s a tradeoff. The U.S. switched to the summer gas blend in warmer weather because it has lower volatility than winter-grade gasoline. The move helps limit unhealthy ground-level ozone, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
The waiver is in place until Sept. 15, the end of the federal control period.
AAA in its gas price report Thursday blames the high prices on continued volatility in the Strait of Hormuz, affecting supply.
This August may be the most expensive August for gas prices on record, surpassing the previous record set in 2022.
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