Renewable Fuels Association calls on Congress to pass year-round E15 legislation after EPA emergency waiver clears summer sales
The Renewable Fuels Association today welcomed a decision by President Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency that will allow uninterrupted nationwide sales of lower-cost E15 fuel this summer, calling the move a win for American families while stressing it is only a temporary solution.
Earlier this week, the EPA issued an emergency waiver clearing the path for continued E15 sales ahead of the summer driving season, avoiding disruptions that have occurred in previous years due to regulatory barriers. The action is expected to help reduce fuel costs for consumers while supporting demand for ethanol produced by American farmers.
While praising the decision, RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper emphasized that more work remains to ensure long-term market stability.
“For the economic and energy security benefits of E15 to be fully realized, the marketplace needs stability and long-term certainty,” Cooper said. “Consumers, fuel producers, and farmers alike desperately need Congress to pass legislation that would deliver permanent year-round access for E15 and finally break the cycle of ad hoc, stop-gap emergency waivers.”
E15, a gasoline blend containing 15 percent ethanol, has been shown to provide cost savings at the pump while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and strengthening domestic energy independence. However, regulatory limitations have historically restricted its sale during the summer months in much of the country, creating uncertainty for retailers and producers alike.
The RFA has long advocated for a permanent legislative solution, such as the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, which would allow E15 sales year-round nationwide without the need for emergency action from the EPA.
Support for such legislation extends well beyond the renewable fuels industry.
According to a survey conducted in March 2026 by Morning Consult of more than 2,000 registered voters, 71 percent support efforts to increase the availability of E15, up two percentage points from a similar survey conducted in December.
Support was also strong for specific legislative action. Two-thirds of respondents, or 66 percent, said they support the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, representing a three-point increase from the December survey.
Cooper noted that the level of support becomes even more pronounced when respondents who were unsure or had no opinion are removed from the results.
Of voters who expressed an opinion, 85 percent support the United States increasing the availability of E15 to help lower fuel prices and support energy independence, while 82 percent support legislation to permanently allow year-round E15 sales.
“For policymakers, the message from voters is clear,” Cooper said. “Americans want affordable fuel choices, stronger energy independence, and consistent policy that supports farmers and rural communities.”
Industry leaders stress that lasting certainty will only come through congressional action that establishes permanent year-round access.
Until then, the renewable fuels sector remains caught in what Cooper described as a repetitive cycle of temporary fixes that fall short of providing the stability needed to fully capitalize on the benefits of E15 for consumers, farmers, and fuel retailers alike.