EPA punts on whether to reduce amount of ethanol in nation's fuel supply

The Obama administration is delaying a decision on whether to reduce the amount of ethanol in the nation's fuel supply.

Last year the Environmental Protection Agency proposed to reduce the amount of ethanol in fuel for the first time. The decision angered corn growers and ethanol companies who have since lobbied the government to reverse the decision.

The EPA said Friday it expects to make a final decision next year.

The ethanol targets are required by a 2007 law that tried to address global warming, reduce dependence on foreign oil and boost the rural economy by requiring oil companies to blend billions of gallons of biofuels into gasoline annually.

Lawmakers did not anticipate fuel economy would improve as much as it has in recent years, reducing overall demand for gasoline.