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Kentucky governor asks EPA to issues waiver on reformulated gas

RFG is a gas blend that is better for the environment, but it's more expensive to produce, about 20-30 cents more per gallon.

FRANKFORT, Ky. — The national average price of gas is now $5 per gallon.

Governor Andy Beshear recently froze an increase to the state's gas tax and is now looking to further reduce the price Kentuckians are paying at the pump.

The Kentucky governor has requested the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant a waiver and remove the requirement that "reformulated" fuel, or RFG, be sold in many urban areas, including Louisville.

Beshear says if the waiver is approved, it would stay in effect for up to 20 days, allowing conventional, more affordable gasoline to be sold in Jefferson County, as well as portions of Bullitt and Oldham counties.

RFG is a gas blend that burns cleaner than regular gasoline, according to the EPA. But while it's better for the environment, it's more expensive to produce, usually costing consumers about 20-30 cents more per gallon.

Cities with high smog levels are federally required to use RFG, and Louisville has been under this federal mandate since 1995.

"The people who live and work in the Louisville area do not deserve to shoulder this extra burden during what is already a trying time when it comes to filling up," Beshear said.

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