EPA allows for nationwide, year-round sales of E15; Agriculture groups react

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued (April 28, 2025) an emergency fuel waiver allowing the nationwide sale of E15 gasoline during the summer driving season.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said making E15 available gives consumers more options when filling their fuel tanks. He said approval of the emergency waiver is consistent with President Trump’s Executive Order directing the EPA to consider issuing emergency waivers to allow for year-round sales of the fuel made by blending 15% ethanol with regular gasoline.

In response to requests from the Governors of South Dakota, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska and Wisconsin, EPA also addressed the States’ concerns about E10 fuel standards within their borders. Specifically, EPA has also waived provisions that otherwise would have made E10 gasoline sold in those seven states meet a more stringent standard than conventional gasoline in other parts of the country. EPA’s action for these states means E15 and E10 are sold across the region on equal footing, helping ensure adequate gasoline supplies to consumers across the country. The federal agency expects retail stations in those seven States to pass cost savings to consumers at the pump because of these waivers.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said President Trump is committed to lowering energy prices by unleashing American energy production, and “it all starts with U.S. farmers.” She said the nation’s corn growers are critical to helping the U.S. achieve energy independence, which is “essential to national security.”

EPA’s emergency fuel waiver will go into effect on May 1 when terminal operators would otherwise no longer be able to sell E15 in the affected regions of the country and will initially remain in place through May 20, the maximum number of days allowed under the Clean Air Act. EPA will continue to monitor the supply with industry and federal partners. The agency expects to issue new waivers effectively extending the emergency fuel waiver until such time as the extreme and unusual fuel supply circumstances are no longer present.

The Clean Air Act allows the EPA Administrator, in consultation with the U.S. Department of Energy, to temporarily waive certain fuel requirements to address shortages. As a result of ongoing issues with gasoline supplies, Zeldin determined that extreme and unusual fuel supply circumstances exist and has granted a temporary waiver to help ensure that an adequate supply of gasoline is available.

For more information on this announcement, please visit EPA’s Fuel Waivers webpage (https://www.epa.gov/gasoline-standards/fuel-waivers).

Agriculture group reaction statements are below.

Renewable Fuels Association Thanks Trump Administration, EPA for Allowing Lower-Cost E15 This Summer

The emergency action taken today (April 28, 2025) by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to allow uninterrupted sales of E15 this summer will help American drivers save money at the pump, strengthen the rural economy, and boost energy independence, according to the Renewable Fuels Association. RFA thanked both EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and the White House for issuing the waivers, noting that today’s action delivers on the commitment President Trump made to ethanol producers and farmers on Day One of his second term.

“On his first day in office, President Trump declared a national energy emergency and identified year-round E15 as a solution for extending fuel supplies and reducing pump prices,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “With geopolitical conflict roiling energy markets worldwide, we applaud President Trump and Administrator Zeldin for acting quickly to combat potential fuel shortages and help keep a lid on gas prices this summer. Allowing uninterrupted sales of E15 will help boost gasoline supplies, bolster the farm economy, and protect air quality. We also appreciate the efforts of USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, several key governors, and the many ethanol supporters in Congress who worked together to promote continued access to E15.”

The lower-cost, American-made E15 blend is legally approved for use in more than 95 percent of vehicles on the road today, according to EPA. Drivers typically save 15-25 cents per gallon when filling up with E15; it currently sells at a 7.5 percent discount to regular unleaded.

Cooper noted that year-round E15 has been allowed in recent years. The EPA took similar emergency action in 2022, 2023 and 2024, and EPA allowed retailers to continue selling E15 following an adverse court decision in an adverse court decision in a lawsuit brought by the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers against President Trump.

While today’s EPA announcement is good news for American families, Cooper pointed out that a permanent legislative solution allowing year-round E15 is still needed. “For the economic and energy security benefits of E15 to be fully realized, the marketplace needs long-term certainty,” he said. “It’s time for Congress to pass legislation—like the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act—that would deliver permanent year-round access for E15 and finally break the cycle of ad hoc, stop-gap emergency waivers.”

American Coalition for Ethanol Grateful for 2025 Emergency E15 Waiver, Urges Permanent Legislative Solution

For the fourth consecutive year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced (April 28, 2025) it is issuing an emergency fuel waiver to allow E15 to be sold during the summer driving season, following President Trump’s Executive Order Declaring a National Energy Emergency. The waiver also allows E10 to exceed the 1-pound RVP waiver, so consistent and uniform fuel specifications for both E10 and E15 are applied nationwide this summer. American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings issued the statement below following the announcement:

“We welcome the Trump administration’s decision to issue an emergency waiver for E15 this summer. Once again, this action will help alleviate fuel costs for drivers while reducing tailpipe emissions at a time when both economic and environmental concerns remain top of mind.

“ACE made year-round E15 access a top priority during our DC Fly-In last month, and we’re grateful to our members and Congressional champions who continue to advocate on this issue. Last year, EPA finalized a rule to allow permanent, year-round E15 sales in some Midwest states starting today — thanks to strong leadership from state governors and persistent grassroots pressure from our industry.

“Nevertheless, emergency waivers and a patchwork of state-specific rules are a temporary remedy, and we badly need a permanent fix to allow E15 year-round on a nationwide basis. It is long past time Congress takes action. We came incredibly close to getting the bipartisan Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act across the finish line at the end of 2024, and now Congress must finish the job and guarantee Americans year-round access to E15. Particularly during a time of tariff-related trade disruptions, uninterrupted market access to E15 is essential to supporting corn demand and improving farm income. Enacting legislation to allow E15 nationwide access will save families money at the pump, increase domestic fuel production, strengthen U.S. energy security, boost the farm economy, reduce tailpipe pollution, and bring long-overdue certainty to fuel markets for retailers and refiners alike.”

Today, more than 95% of all U.S. vehicles are approved to use E15 and over 4,000 retail sites offer E15 across 33 states. E15 typically costs 5 to 25 cents per gallon less than E10 and 40 cents to $1.00 less than non-ethanol gasoline. With a higher-octane rating and lower emissions profile, E15 gives consumers the ability to choose a higher quality, cleaner-burning fuel at a better price.

EPA allows for nationwide, year-round sales of E15; Agriculture groups react

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