President Donald Trump is making another push for year-round sales of E15 gasoline, telling Congress on Tuesday to get a deal done that would allow continuous sales of the fuel blend containing 15% ethanol.
The move addresses a quirk in current regulations that forces gas stations in several states to halt E15 sales every May 1 to curb smog formation on hot days. Year-round availability could deliver benefits on multiple fronts: more income for corn farmers who supply ethanol feedstock, support for small and mid-sized refiners, and potentially lower prices at the pump thanks to increased supply.
Speaking at a rally in Clive, Iowa, Trump indicated he's coordinating with House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune to push the legislation through. "They're very close to getting it done," Trump said, following through on a campaign promise to implement year-round E15 immediately upon taking office.
The Regulatory History
This isn't Trump's first attempt at making E15 available year-round. During his first term, he directed the EPA to permit continuous sales, but that plan hit a wall when lower courts struck it down and the Supreme Court declined to review the ruling. Both Trump and former President Joe Biden have issued temporary waivers allowing summer E15 sales when fuel prices spiked, but those were stopgap measures rather than permanent policy.
Why Farm States Care
E15 is especially popular in corn-belt states like Iowa and Nebraska, where higher ethanol blends translate directly into more income for local farmers. The Iowa Corn Growers Association welcomed Trump's announcement enthusiastically. Vice President Steve Kuiper said that year-round E15 passage "is the lifeline many farmers need to continue farming."
Before Trump's Iowa visit, Iowa Corn and the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association had already urged the President to push for permanent E15 legislation, emphasizing that long-term access is critical for the state's economy. Farmers argue that higher-ethanol fuel offers a double benefit: it's cheaper for consumers and more environmentally friendly, making the outdated summer restrictions unnecessary.
Timing and Politics
The push comes as Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has been highlighting falling gas prices as a win for the administration. The average per-gallon price currently sits at $2.879, down from $3.120 on the same date last year. Expanding E15 availability could help maintain or accelerate that downward trend, giving the administration another talking point on pocketbook issues while delivering tangible support to a key agricultural constituency.
