By Jason Vance

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is pushing to make E15, a gasoline blend containing 15% ethanol, available year-round, a move the industry says would benefit both consumers and retailers.

Derrick Piney, chairman of the RFA, described the effort as a long-awaited milestone.

“It’s been a long battle over many years,” Piney said. “Last December, we thought we had it approved, and we were getting really close in 2025.”

However, efforts to advance legislation allowing year-round E15 sales recently faced a setback. An attempt to pass the E15 bill as part of a funding measure fell through. Instead, House leaders created a Rural Energy Council, which will study E15 expansion along with other issues affecting the renewable fuels industry, including U.S. refinery capacity, the Renewable Fuel Standard, EPA’s Renewable Identification Numbers, market access, and federal regulations that impact American energy production.

The council, appointed by House Speaker Mike Johnson, is expected to develop bills and submit them to Congress by February 15, with the House considering the legislation by February 25.

Piney said the industry remains optimistic despite the setback. “With the government shutdown behind us and the creation of this council, there’s still a good path forward to move E15 expansion and renewable fuel policies through Congress,” he said.

If successful, the changes could bring a more stable market for ethanol, lower costs at the pump for consumers, and a boost to renewable energy production nationwide.

Currently, E15 can legally be sold during the winter months, roughly from mid-September to June 1. During the summer, it is restricted to use in flex-fuel vehicles due to provisions in the Clean Air Act, which Piney called “an archaic statute that needs to be changed.”

Retailers have been hesitant to offer E15 during summer months because reconfiguring pumps and storage tanks is costly and complicated. “If they don’t have the ability to sell it as flex fuel, they have to turn it off,” Piney said. “It also inhibits consumers because they lose the opportunity to buy cheaper fuel. E15 is about 5 to 10 cents cheaper per gallon than standard E10.”

The RFA is also monitoring regulatory challenges related to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Each year, the Environmental Protection Agency sets volume obligations for ethanol blending, but exemptions granted to small refineries have caused disruptions. Piney emphasized the need for the RFS program to reallocate waived obligations to maintain stable demand for renewable fuels.

Trade remains a critical focus for the industry. The United States exported several billion gallons of ethanol last year, Piney said, making international markets essential for the sector. “Our domestic demand isn’t as strong as what we can produce, so we’re counting on those exports,” he said.