Commonwealth Policy Center

Louisville drivers will see savings at the pump beginning this May as the city’s long-standing reformulated gasoline mandate ends. For years, residents and small businesses were required to buy a specialized blend that cost about 25 cents more per gallon. It was under the auspices of pollution control, but the environmental benefit was limited. Now the mandate has ended after a lengthy battle. This is an example of why policies should be reviewed regularly. And regulations that no longer justify their economic burden should be removed. Kentuckians deserve clean air, but they also deserve relief from unnecessary costs that affect households and businesses. According to Mayor Craig Greenberg, dropping the reformulated gas mandate is expected to save Louisvillians $137 million per year.