Update: On Feb. 21, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the agency’s decision to uphold the current April 28, 2025, implementation date to provide parity, or equal status, for E15 and E10 in Midwestern states. This action, requested by the governors of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin, provides regulatory certainty for fuel suppliers and expands consumer access to E15 year-round in these states.
U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, on Feb. 13 introduced the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025, which includes the year-round, nationwide sale of E15, a gasoline blend that contains 15% ethanol. She has introduced several similar bills since 2015.
“My bill will put an end to years of patchwork regulations and finally make nationwide, year-round E15 a reality,” said Fischer.
Additional cosponsors of this bipartisan, bicameral bill include U.S. Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois), Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota), Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), Dick Durbin (D-Illinosi), Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Tina Smith (D-Minnesota), and Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota). U.S. Representatives Adrian Smith (R-Nebraska) and Angie Craig (DFL-Minnesota) introduced identical companion legislation in the House.
“For our country to remain a global energy leader, we must continue to invest in renewable and clean energy so we can decrease our emissions and dependence on foreign oil,” said Duckworth. “Producing less expensive fuel choices like E15 that can be sold year-round would help lower gas prices, protect the environment, support our farmers and drive economic opportunity throughout the Midwest. I’m proud to join Sen. Fischer in reintroducing our bipartisan legislation that would do just that.”
Smith said, “It is time to enact year-round E15 nationwide to provide relief at the pump and certainty for producers. I thank my House colleagues and Sen. Fischer for their partnership on our tenacious bipartisan efforts to honor congressional intent in the RFS [Renewable Fuel Standard]. From ethanol to biomass-based diesel to sustainable aviation fuel, the world depends on liquid fuels to meet consumer demand and move us forward. We have just scratched the surface of our production capacity, which is why it is so important to codify year-round E15 and ensure robust RFS volumes.”
The American Petroleum Institute, Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy, National Corn Growers Association, National Farmer Union and National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) have endorsed the legislation, Fischer said.
The government currently restricts sales of E15 gasoline in summer months due to environmental concerns over smog, which the biofuel industry says are unfounded, according to a Reuters report. Other critics cite the potential for engine damage.
Last month, President Trump took steps to make E15 available year-round through his Executive Order Declaring a National Energy Emergency.
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