Ethanol use topped 11% of the nation’s gasoline for the first time ever in October 2025, based on the latest Energy Department Data.
The ethanol “blend rate” came in at 11.06 percent, according to the Energy Information Administration, which was just enough for the ethanol industry to declare a big win.
Renewable Fuels Association Chief Economist Scott Richman says the “blend wall” promoted by the oil industry was always a myth.
“We’ve seen in recent years that ethanol has reached 10.3, 10.4 percent of the gasoline pool. And that’s proven that we can go beyond ten percent.”
The 12-month average blend rate also hit a record of 10.5% in October, with expanding availability the apparent driving factor and demand for flex fuels like E85. Richman says the administration’s timely summertime fuel waivers are also helpful, but…. that’s not enough.
“What needs to be done is for a permanent legislative fix is allowing E15 to be sold year-round in conventional gasoline areas. And we’re hopeful that in the upcoming budget legislation that has to happen, that this language will be included.”
….which RFA says would also open a badly-needed new market for the nation’s farmers, who are struggling with low crop prices. Richman says continued E15 expansion depends, in large part, on the EPA finalizing robust RFS volumes for 2026-2027 and a full reallocation of small refinery exemptions for 2023 and later.
“In order to maintain sales of E15 and to keep expanding sales, it’s critical that small refinery exemptions not be granted en masse, and that if some are granted, the volumes are reallocated to other refiners.”
Currently, Richman says air restrictions block E15 summertime sales in most of the country.
“Because of those restrictions, it makes it difficult for fuel retailers in those areas, for about two-thirds of the gasoline sold in the United States, to offer ethanol on a year-round basis.”
RFA, Growth Energy, and a long list of farm groups argue that permanent year-round E15 sales would save drivers money on gas and would boost markets for America’s farmers by removing the year-to-year need for summertime waivers to get around the restrictions.
“This is something that’s an anachronistic regulatory issue, but it can’t be fixed through regulatory means. So, what needs to be done is for a permanent legislative fix.”
….which could become a rider on one of several spending bills the House is now moving. RFA and the other groups argue that expanding E15 sales is one of the fastest ways to boost demand for billions of bushels of corn, sorghum and soybeans.
RFA says keeping an average 11% blend rate for a full year would convert into 15 billion gallons of domestic ethanol use.
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