Sens. John Thune, R-S.D., and Dick Durbin, D-Ill., on April 3 led a bipartisan group of colleagues in asking President Donald Trump to exercise emergency waiver authority to permit the continued nationwide availability of E15 this summer.&nbsp;Under the Clean Air Act, the U.S. EPA can use its emergency waiver authority to allow E15 sales to continue through the summer driving season. Such waivers were issued for the 2022, 2023 and 2024 summer driving seasons.&nbsp;In a letter to Trump, the senators note that “the year-round sale of E15 has allowed for lower gas prices for consumers and stronger support of domestic biofuels and U.S. agriculture for three consecutive years.”“These waivers will allow our domestic energy supply chain to continue to quickly and reliably respond to fuel supply challenges brought on, in part, by the war in Ukraine, which unfortunately continues to weigh on global energy and security,” the senators continued. “Furthermore, this effort is in line with your executive order “Declaring a National Energy Emergency” that implores Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Zeldin and Department of Energy Secretary Wright to consider issuing these emergency waivers. And finally, this action will give the agriculture economy much needed certainty by increasing the domestic demand for American commodities.”In addition to Thune and Durbin, the letter is signed by Sens. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis.; Kevin Cramer, R-N.D.; Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill.; Joni Ernst, R-Iowa; Deb Fischer, R-Neb.; Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa; Josh Hawley, R-Mo.; John Hoeven, R-N.D.; Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.; Jerry Moran, R-Kan.; Gary Peters, D-Mich.; Pete Ricketts, R-Neb.; Mike Rounds, R-S.D.; Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich.; and Tina Smith, D-Minn.The Renewable Fuels Association is thanking the senators for their support of year-round E15.&nbsp;“American families need relief at the gas pump, and E15 is a lower-cost fuel blend that can save them money each time they fill their tanks,” said Geoff Cooper, president and CEO of the RFA. “We thank Senators Thune and Durbin and their colleagues for working with the Trump administration to prioritize continued access to E15 during the summer driving season. Not only does year-round E15 help consumers save money, but it keeps an important market open for America’s farmers and ethanol producers. While the action requested by these Senators would help keep E15 flowing this summer, our ultimate objective is for Congress to pass the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act that would permanently authorize year-round E15 nationwide.”Growth Energy is also applauding the senators’ push for consumer access to E15.&nbsp;“Year-round access to E15 can provide American families with immediate relief at the pump, while helping to restore the rural economy,” said Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy. “It has saved drivers 10 to 30 cents per gallon over the past few summers, and swift action on a summer waiver will ensure that those savings don’t vanish from the marketplace on June 1. We applaud our champions in the Senate for their ongoing efforts to unleash the full power of American biofuels and provide more certain and reliable markets for U.S. farmers.”

2025-04-03 - Senators urge Trump to issue emergency waiver for E15 (Ethanol Producer Magazine)

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Sens. John Thune, R-S.D., and Dick Durbin, D-Ill., on April 3 led a bipartisan group of colleagues in asking President Donald Trump to exercise emergency waiver authority to permit the continued nationwide availability of E15 this summer. 

Senators urge Trump to issue emergency waiver for E15

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