The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) granted an emergency waiver allowing for year-round sales of E15 (Unleaded 88) in summer 2026. On Friday, the agency finalized 2026 and 2027 renewable volume obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard that include an implied 15-billion-gallon annual target for conventional renewable fuels like ethanol. EPA will also reallocate 70 percent of the renewable fuel volumes lost to small refinery exemptions (SREs) for 2023-2025, effectively restoring 2.03 billion gallons of previously lost demand.
In a statement, Minnesota Corn Growers Association President Wes Beck praised EPA for both decisions, noting they provide demand certainty for corn ethanol.
Beck said the E15 waiver will provide drivers and fuel retailers with much-needed predictability for 2026—ensuring they can maintain access to lower-cost, lower-carbon E15. But he added that MCGA still urges Congress to pass legislation that would ensure permanent year-round E15, a move that could spur significant adoption of the fuel blend across the country.
“Widespread adoption of E15 is the best way to maximize the air quality, cost, and octane benefits of the fuel while also supporting domestic energy production and bolstering agricultural economies,” he said. “We appreciate EPA’s approval of the waiver for 2026 and look forward to working with members of Congress and the administration to make a permanent fix a reality.”
Beck said EPA’s 2026 and 2027 RVO targets provide certainty for farmers and agricultural economies while bolstering U.S. energy security. He said that while it’s disappointing EPA didn’t fully restore the lost SREs, the proposal is better than the 50% reallocation that was also under consideration. In the finalized RFS rule for 2026 and 2027, EPA will only provide 50 percent of the RIN value to imported biofuel or fuels made with non-domestic feedstocks beginning in 2028 compliance year. Finalizing this provision now gives renewable fuel producers time to adjust but prioritizes domestic feedstock use and production for the RFS program.
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