A Win for Farmers: Nationwide E15

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued an emergency fuel waiver to allow the sale of E15, gasoline blended with 15% ethanol, nationwide during the summer season. This will allow E15 to continue being sold across the nation. This follows President Trump’s Executive Order Declaring a National Energy Emergency that influenced the EPA to release emergency waivers to allow the sale of year-round E15.

“Illinois corn farmers need growth in the domestic ethanol industry to boost prices and farm family profitability. We are grateful to the President and his administration for prioritizing year-round access to E15,” explains Garrett Hawkins, President, IL Corn Growers Association and farmer from Waterloo, IL. “The best case scenario for Illinois farm families is to now build on this momentum and pass higher blend legislation that will benefit all Americans, especially rural America, and prevent the need for annual emergency waivers.”

Higher blends of ethanol lower the price of fuel for consumers, as the price of ethanol is lower than the price of petroleum fuel. Higher blends of ethanol boost rural economies, especially near ethanol plants. President Trump stated that he supports permanent year-round access to biofuel to eliminate uncertainty and the need for regulatory action each summer.

This waiver will go into effect on May 1, 2025. IL Corn is working with industry partners to pass permanent year-round access of E15.