(WASHINGTON D.C.) — The prospect of year-round sales of E-15 gasoline is once again up for debate on Capitol Hill as a bipartisan group of Senators on Thursday reintroduced the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025.
Led by Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb), the legislation would allow the nationwide sale of E-15 gasoline, fuel blended with 15% corn ethanol, to be sold year-round. The same legislation was set to be in the year-end spending bill in the last Congress but was ultimately taken out at the 11th hour. Companion legislation has also been introduced in the House by U.S. Representatives Adrian Smith (NE-03) and Angie Craig (MN-02).
“It’s time to once and for all solidify President Trump’s pledge to allow the sale of year-round E15—giving America’s producers and consumers the certainty they deserve,” said Senator Fischer. “My bill will put an end to years of patchwork regulations and finally make nationwide, year-round E15 a reality. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House and the Senate, as well as with President Trump, to get this bill signed into law.”
One of the bill’s co-sponsors, Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) added in a statement that “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. 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 Senator Fischer in reintroducing our bipartisan legislation that would do just that.”
Craig, who is the House Ag Committee Ranking Member, said Thursday that “Homegrown biofuels are tools we have right now to address climate change, strengthen our nation’s energy infrastructure and lower costs for Americans at the gas pump. This bill is the kind of commonsense legislation we need more of in Washington, and I’m proud to be a part of the bipartisan coalition fighting for year-round E15 in the House.”
Congressman Smith from Nebraska also added in part that “I have been fighting to eliminate unnecessary, unscientific, and misguided barriers to E15 access since 2010. 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 Senator Fischer for their partnership on our tenacious bipartisan efforts to honor congressional intent in the RFS. 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.”
Multiple ag and ethanol groups have voiced their support on Thursday as well. “Extending nationwide consumer access to E15 will save drivers money at the pump while boosting the farm economy,” said Illinois farmer and National Corn Growers Association President Kenneth Hartman Jr. “We want to applaud the sponsors and co-sponsors of this bill for introducing legislation that promises to significantly benefit consumers and farmers alike.”
“This bipartisan legislation would finally bring nationwide consistency and stability to the marketplace and eliminate the need for last-minute emergency waivers. With the summer driving season just around the corner, we urge lawmakers to swiftly adopt this bill and deliver a win for American families seeking cleaner, lower-cost fuel options. Time is of the essence,”said Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “Ethanol producers, oil refiners, fuel retailers, equipment manufacturers, farmers, and consumers have all rallied behind this commonsense approach. We thank Sens. Deb Fischer and Tammy Duckworth for their continued leadership on this important issue. RFA commends them and their fellow renewable fuel supporters in the Senate for continuing to fight for fair market access for our nation’s farmers, ethanol producers, and consumers.”
“We applaud Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Representatives Adrian Smith (R-Neb.) and Angie Craig (D-Minn.) for leading the charge once again to unlock permanent, nationwide access to E15. Rural families and American consumers are lucky to have them in our corner, and we hope this is the bill that finally makes it over the finish line. The American people have waited for too long to get reliable access to a fuel that can lower costs while creating jobs in rural communities. We look forward to continuing our work with our champions in Congress and the White House to finally make year-round E15 the law of the land,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor.
“E-15 is a win for both farmers and consumers, offering a vital opportunity to lower fuel prices and provide more choices at the pump,”said National Farmer Union President Rob Larew.“This legislation supports family farmers by creating stronger, more reliable markets while helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions. With this bill, we’re taking critical steps toward a more sustainable future, and we urge lawmakers to act quickly to ensure farmers and consumers benefit from these opportunities.”
“We’re grateful to bipartisan leaders in the House and Senate for reintroducing this critically important legislation which would once and for all ensure nationwide and permanent E15 availability,” said American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings. “Support for year-round E15 is growing in Congress and we thank our biofuel champions for leading that effort. As the summer driving season quickly approaches, we will continue working with our Senate and House supporters to make E15 year-round a reality and are prioritizing this during our annual DC fly-in next month.”
Last month, on the first day of his term, President Donald Trump took steps to make E15 available year-round through his Executive Order Declaring a National Energy Emergency.
Click here to read the full text of the bill.
