E15 receives summer waiver from US EPA
The EPA has granted a nationwide emergency waiver allowing E15 fuel sales during the 2025 summer, marking the fourth consecutive year of such action. This move, prompted by a Trump-era energy directive, aims to ensure fuel supply, lower prices, and support rural economies. Ethanol advocates are now urging Congress to pass permanent legislation for year-round E15 availability.
WASHINGTON, DC, US — The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued an emergency fuel waiver allowing the sale of E15 gasoline — gasoline blended with 15% ethanol — nationwide during the summer driving season for the fourth consecutive year.
The waiver follows an emergency energy declaration by President Donald Trump that seeks to ensure an adequate fuel supply by directing the EPA to consider issuing emergency waivers to allow for year-round E15 sales.
Renewable fuels and grain groups praised the decision, which was announced by the EPA on April 28 ahead of a May 1 deadline for continuing sales during the summer driving season.
“This waiver will help corn growers and rural communities while saving consumers at the pump during a busy driving season,” said Kenneth Hartman Jr., president of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and an Illinois farmer. “We are deeply appreciative of President Trump and the EPA for making year-round access to E15 a priority.”
In response to concerns from Midwest governors, the waiver also allows E10 to exceed the 1-pound Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) waiver, which measures fuel volatility, so consistent and uniform fuel specifications for both E10 and E15 are applied nationwide this summer.
“We welcome the Trump administration’s decision to issue an emergency waiver for E15 this summer,” said Brian Jennings, chief executive officer of the American Coalition of Ethanol (ACE). “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.”
Jennings also called on Congress to make the annual waiver permanent to allow E15 sales nationally year-round, clearing up emergency waivers and a patchwork of state-specific rules. He noted that more than 95% of all US vehicles are approved to use E15 and over 4,000 retail sites offer E15 across 33 states.
“Enacting legislation to allow E15 nationwide access will save families money at the pump, increase domestic fuel production, strengthen US energy security, boost the farm economy, reduce tailpipe pollution, and bring long-overdue certainty to fuel markets for retailers and refiners alike,” Jennings said.
Geoff Cooper, president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), echoed the praise for the EPA waiver and call for year-round approval of E15 sales.“Allowing uninterrupted sales of E15 will help boost gasoline supplies, bolster the farm economy, and protect air quality,” Cooper said. “For the economic and energy security benefits of E15 to be fully realized, the marketplace needs long-term certainty. 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.”
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Source : World Grain.com
