EPA Announces Summertime Waiver for E15

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WASHINGTON D.C. – On Wednesday, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin, in consultation with U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and in accordance with the Clean Air Act (CAA), issued a temporary emergency fuel waiver to allow nationwide sales of E15, gasoline blended with 15 percent ethanol, and to remove all federal impediments to selling E10, gasoline blended with 10 percent ethanol, across the country.

“EPA is working with our federal partners to reduce unnecessary costs and uncertainty and ensure that gas prices remain affordable for all Americans through the summer. This emergency action will provide American families with relief by increasing fuel supply and consumer choice,” said EPA Administrator Zeldin. “President Trump has prioritized ensuring American families have an affordable domestic energy supply. The Trump Administration has made great strides on this during the first year and will continue to do so.”

Through the waiver, EPA is fortifying the domestic gasoline supply chain and providing Americans relief at the pumps ahead of the summer driving season. Beginning on May 1, 2026, EPA’s waivers will work to prevent disruption in America’s fuel supply by keeping E15 on the market and giving Americans more fuel options. EPA is issuing the waiver notice today to allow fuel industry stakeholders adequate time to transition the fuel distribution system. As required by the CAA, EPA and DOE evaluated the current situation and determined that granting the waiver was in the public interest.

“President Trump is unleashing American Energy Dominance, and today’s action will directly lower prices at the pump and gives a clear demand signal to our domestic biofuels producers. Allowing the summer sale of E-15 will provide drivers more options at the pump, and deliver a bigger domestic market for American farmers,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins. “While today’s announcement is great news for farmers, year-round E-15 is essential for the farm economy, and Congress needs to find a common sense solution that provides much needed certainty to consumers and farmers. Once again, Administrator Zeldin and President Trump’s cabinet is delivering for our great American farmers. Our energy security is truly a national security priority, and our nations corn farmers are a key part of the solution.”

The emergency fuel waiver will temporarily waive the summer low volatility requirements and blending limitations for gasoline to provide additional flexibility to the fuel marketplace. This will increase fuel supply and provide a variety of gasoline fuel blends to choose from without changing environmental protections already in place.

“During a time of highly volatile fuel prices and instability in global crude oil markets, President Trump and Administrator Zeldin understand that year-round E15 is a solution that can extend domestic fuel supplies and reduce pump prices for hardworking American families,” said Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “With geopolitical conflict roiling energy markets worldwide, we applaud President Trump and Administrator Zeldin for acting quickly and decisively to combat potential fuel shortages and help keep a lid on gas prices this summer. Today’s action will allow maximum flexibility and fuel fungibility in the marketplace, which is exactly what the supply chain needs right now. We also appreciate the efforts of USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, several Midwest governors, and the many ethanol supporters in Congress who worked together to promote continued access to E15.”

RFA on March 9 urged the White House to take action earlier than usual to allow summertime sales of E15, among other steps, to help blunt the effects of Mideast turmoil on American consumers. As of this morning, E15 had been selling an average of 28 cents per gallon less than regular gasoline, an 8.6 percent discount, according to real-time tracking at RFA’s website reporting prices of ethanol blends.

While today’s EPA announcement is good news for American families, a permanent legislative solution allowing year-round E15 is still needed, Cooper said. “For the economic and energy security benefits of E15 to be fully realized, the marketplace needs stability and long-term certainty. 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.”

Additional industry groups and agricultural leaders also weighed in on the announcement, emphasizing both the immediate benefits of the waiver and the need for a permanent legislative fix.

American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings responded to the EPA’s announcement, pointing to current global energy volatility and the need for long-term policy certainty.

“If ever there were justifiable conditions to merit an emergency waiver for E15, it would be now as fuel prices have skyrocketed from war with Iran and a historical oil market disruption in the Strait of Hormuz. We welcome the Trump administration’s action which will help consumers access a significantly less expensive fuel, shielding drivers from Middle East fuel price volatility,” said Jennings.

“Despite this action, Congress must still act quickly,” he continued. “ACE made year-round E15 access a top priority during our DC Fly-In this month, and we’re grateful to our members and Congressional champions who continue to advocate on this issue. Enactment of E15 legislation has recently been held hostage by a handful of small and mid-sized oil refiners trying to line their pockets at the expense of American consumers and farmers. Instead of letting these disingenuous concerns by a small subset of refiners, some whom are Fortune 500 companies, stall action, Congress should stand with the supermajority of oil refiners who have united with agriculture, biofuel, and fuel retail groups in favor of bipartisan action from Congress on year-round E15.”

Highlighting the long-time effort of the ethanol industry to push year-round legislation, Jennings continued “While EPA has approved E15 in select Midwest states and has now issued temporary summer waivers since 2022, only Congress can provide a permanent, nationwide solution to reduce gas prices and prevent a confusing patchwork of state regulations.”

The EPA’s decision also drew support from corn growers, who highlighted both farm-level and consumer impacts.

National Corn Growers Association President and Ohio farmer Jed Bower said “We are deeply appreciative of President Trump and Administrator Zeldin for expanding consumer access to E15 through the summer months. This development will not only help America’s corn growers who are doing their best to navigate tough economic times, but also it will save drivers money at the pump. In fact, drivers save a quarter a gallon on average with E15.”

“This development is no substitute for action that would allow for the permanent, year-round sale of E15,” Bower continued. “We call on Congress to heed the calls from President Trump and our congressional allies and immediately pass E15 legislation.”

Growth Energy, the nation’s largest biofuel trade association, applauded the Trump administration’s decision to grant emergency waivers allowing uninterrupted, nationwide sales of lower-cost E15, a fuel blend made with 15% ethanol that can be used in 96% of cars on the road today. The decision will ensure that consumers will maintain access to a fuel that saves drivers up to 30 cents per gallon.

“We applaud President Trump, EPA Administrator Zeldin, and our Midwestern governors for their support, and for taking swift action to ensure that retailers, refiners, and biofuel producers have the certainty they need to protect consumer access to savings at the pump,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor.

Skor further emphasized the need for congress to act quickly on the president’s call for nationwide legislation, something she calls a “common-sense solution that doesn’t cost taxpayers a dime.”

“Not only will permanent legislation unlock greater fuel savings across the U.S.—it will deliver an immediate, badly-needed boost to the rural economy,” she said.“This development will not only help America’s corn growers who are doing their best to navigate tough economic times, but also it will save drivers money at the pump. In fact, drivers save a quarter a gallon on average with E15.”

American voters have also registered overwhelming support for permanent, year-round access to E15. A survey taken last week of more than 2,000 registered voters, by Morning Consult, indicates that 71 percent of those polled support efforts to increase the availability of E15, up two percentage points from a December survey. And two-thirds of voters (66 percent) support the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act. This is up three points from December.

These strong numbers are amplified by removing the respondents who reported not knowing or having an opinion, Cooper noted. Of voters expressing an opinion, 85 percent support the U.S. increasing the availability of E15 to help lower fuel prices and support energy independence, and 82 percent support the E15 legislation.

E15 is currently offered at over 3,000 gas stations nationwide, where it serves as a more affordable choice for Americans. Without this action, E15 gasoline cannot be used by roughly half of the country this summer. Additionally, EPA is also waiving federal enforcement of all state “boutique” fuel requirements for gasoline, allowing the production and distribution of gasoline with 9 to 15 percent ethanol content at a single common Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) standard of 10 psi across the nation. EPA’s actions will go into effect on May 1, 2026, for most states, and will initially remain in place through May 20, 2026. This 20-day window is the maximum number of days allowed under the CAA.

Efforts to allow year-round E15 sales have stretched over more than a decade, dating back to 2010 when the Environmental Protection Agency first approved E15 for use in newer vehicles. Early rollout efforts in 2011 and 2012 were slowed by infrastructure challenges and regulatory barriers, particularly Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) restrictions under the Clean Air Act that limited summertime sales. In 2019, the Trump administration finalized a rule permitting year-round E15, but that rule was vacated in 2021 by a federal court, reinstating seasonal limits. Since then, lawmakers have pursued bipartisan legislation such as the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, while EPA has relied on annual emergency waivers to maintain summer access. As the fight for year-round E-15 sales moves into its 16th year, industry proponents no doubt struggle to balance patience for the long-winded effort, and hope for a permanent solution.

E15 availability across the United States is shaped not only by federal summer restrictions, but also by state-level policies, fuel systems, and vehicle compatibility requirements for higher ethanol blends. EPA’s Wednesday announcement temporarily addresses the Reid Vapor Pressure requirements that otherwise limit availability in roughly half the country. While several Midwestern states have taken steps to allow year-round E15 through state petitions, many others still rely on these annual waivers to maintain access.

At the same time, California consumers won’t find E-15 at any pump in the state, regardless of the season, because of its own fuel standards and programs such as the Low Carbon Fuel Standard, which have limited adoption of the blend compared to E10 or higher ethanol options like E85. Unlike E15, which is approved for use in most vehicles model year 2001 and newer, E85 is only approved for use in flex-fuel vehicles specifically designed to handle higher ethanol concentrations, meaning its availability and usability are more limited despite offering a higher ethanol blend option. Even more, pumps with E85 can only be found in 10-15 of the state’s 58 counties. Many rural and coastal counties have no E85 stations at all, highlighting the uneven access to higher ethanol blends across the state.

While the Golden State’s Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill in late 2025 directing regulators to evaluate and potentially allow E15, the fuel has not yet been broadly introduced as the state works through certification and rule making. California is the only state with a separate fuel system that has prevented E15 sales, while in the rest of the country the blend is federally approved but not always widely available due to infrastructure restrictions.

For more information on this announcement, please visit EPA’s Fuel Waivers webpage.