E15 Sales Hit Records as Push Continues for Legislation

Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

According to a Renewable Fuels Association analysis, sales of 15 percent ethanol blended gasoline hit a record 1.52 billion gallons in 2025, an increase of 23 percent over 2024, despite the continued ban on E15 in many states during the summer requiring federal waivers to allow sales for the past several years.

Data released by state agencies in Minnesota and Iowa show significant increased sales per station and accelerated growth in the number of stations offering E15. Minnesota and Iowa are the only two states for which reliable government data exist for E15 sales volumes.

Reported sales of E15 surged 60 percent in Iowa to more than 410 million gallons thanks to the state’s E15 Access Standard, which required most retailers to make the fuel available to consumers by the beginning of this year.

While a significant number of stations that sell E15 and other midlevel blends of ethanol in Minnesota are not required to report their volumes to the Department of Commerce, E15 has accounted for 99 percent of midlevel blend sales reported in Minnesota in recent years. Multiplying this share by DOC’s estimate of total midlevel blend sales implies that 169 million gallons of E15 were sold in the state last year.

Across the United States, RFA estimates that the number of stations offering E15 rose to 4,600 by the end of 2025, an increase of 900 from the end of 2024, which is equal to the combined increase over the prior two years.

Total U.S. E15 sales can be estimated using the data for Iowa and Minnesota, given that the two states account for more than a third of U.S. stations offering E15. Average annual E15 sales per reporting station across the states have centered around 365,000 gallons over the last five years.

Multiplying the number of stations selling E15 in the U.S. by the average of reported sales per station in Iowa and Minnesota, RFA estimates that nationwide E15 sales increased to a record 1.52 billion gallons in 2025, compared to 1.24 billion gallons a year earlier.

Meanwhile, despite the lack of action on E15 in Congress, groups continue to push for legislation. Rural Voices USA is targeting Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin in a digital and billboard ad campaign to “Stop the Stall” in Congress, noting those states are among the hardest hit with the worst ag economy in decades.

E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Ethanol Report on EPA Announcements

Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

The Trump administration hit two home runs for the ethanol industry during the last week of March amidst National Agriculture Month celebrations – announcing waivers to allow sales of E15 through the summer, in lieu of Congressional action to make it permanent, and finalizing the long-delayed renewable volume obligations for 2026 and 2027.

In this edition of The Ethanol Report podcast, Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Geoff Cooper discusses the actions by the administration and why the industry is still pressing for permanent nationwide E15 to be passed by Congress yet this year.

Ethanol Report 4-1-26 26:26

The Ethanol Report is a podcast about the latest news and information in the ethanol industry that has been sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association since 2008.

Choose an option to subscribe

Audio, E15, EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Ethanol Report, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA, RFS

Illinois Reaches B20 Milestone

Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

Effective today, April 1, biodiesel blend incentive requirements will increase from B17 to B20 in Illinois, marking the final step in the implementation of Illinois’ B20 incentive passed by the state legislature in 2022.

According to the Illinois Soybean Association, this means every gallon of diesel that contains 20% biodiesel will be exempt from 6.25% sales taxes. There is an 11% percent blend rate during the winter months.

While the biodiesel industry overall saw a decrease in use by 924 million gallons or 45% last year (according to U.S. Department of Energy data), Illinois saw an increase of biodiesel use of 10 million gallons or 5%, due to the incentive (according to Illinois Department of Revenue data).

Clean Fuels Alliance America Director of State Governmental Affairs Jeff Earl said the Illinois incentive is a clear example of how consistent state policy can accelerate clean fuel use while delivering real economic benefits. “Illinois has created a model that supports farmers, strengthens fuel markets and improves air quality all at the same time,” said Earl. “This B20 milestone is not just a win for clean fuels; it’s a win for rural communities, the environment and energy security.”

Biodiesel, Clean Fuels Alliance

Iowa E15 Sales Shatter Record with 60% Increase

Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

The Iowa Department of Revenue released the 2025 Retailers Motor Fuel Gallons Annual Report this week, showing E15 sales increased 60% last year in Iowa to over 410 million gallons sold. At the end of 2025, almost half of Iowa fuel stations offered E15, with the blend accounting for 27% of gasoline sales.

Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper says this shows what’s possible when E15 is given fair access to the marketplace. “E15’s market share in Iowa has gone from just a sliver of the gasoline pool several years ago to more than a quarter of total volume today. Iowa drivers are clearly responding to E15’s lower price at the pump, its performance in their vehicles, and its positive impact on the environment. Iowa is again setting the pace when it comes to using homegrown renewable fuels, and we encourage other states to follow their lead.”

Iowa adopted the E15 Access Standard several years ago, compelling most retailers in the state to make the fuel available to consumers by Jan. 1, 2026. “The massive growth in E15 sales reflects the success of Governor Reynolds’s E15 Access Standard,” said Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Executive Director Monte Shaw. “With Iowa drivers saving an average of 15 cents per gallon by choosing E15, the cost savings equal an estimated $61.5 million. E15 is well on its way to becoming the new normal fuel in Iowa.”

However, the report also showed that less than 51 million gallons of biodiesel were sold in Iowa last year, which is down from about 82 million gallons of biodiesel sold during 2024.

“2025 was the predictable result of being completely unsettled by federal policy,” commented Shaw. “Low RFS blend levels for 2025, combined with no guidance on federal tax credits during the same period, disrupted the biodiesel market. Iowa biodiesel took a big hit but can weather the storm and rebound quickly with the right policies put in place.”

Biodiesel, E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Industry Reacts to Final RFS Volumes

Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

Ethanol industry stakeholders are pleased with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) for the 2026 and 2027 compliance years under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) ‘Set 2’ Rule overall, but still take issue with the 70% partial reallocation of the 2023–2025 granted small refinery exemptions (SREs).

Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper says they advocated for full reallocation of the 2023-2025 SREs, but at least the 70 percent reallocation included in the final rule is better than other options that were under consideration as low as 50 percent.

“We continue to believe small refinery exemptions are completely unjustified, and the SRE petition process—including EPA’s reliance on the Department of Energy’s ‘scoring matrix’—is fundamentally flawed,” Cooper said. “SREs distort the market, undermine fair competition, and destabilize the RFS program. And while RFA appreciates EPA’s efforts to minimize market disruptions by reallocating most of the renewable volume lost to SREs, we believe the Agency has a duty to fully restore all exempted volumes.”

American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings says failing to fully account for any SREs granted risks undermining the intent of the RFS.

“The integrity of the RFS depends on ensuring volume obligations translate into real-world demand,” said Jennings. “Importantly, EPA has the authority to set volumes that require more than 15 billion gallons of conventional biofuels annually. We would encourage EPA to seriously consider higher volumes next year to account for any negative impact from SRE gallons not being fully reallocated and for potential E15 increases.”

Even the American Petroleum Institute (API) says reallocating volumes from SREs “distorts the marketplace, rewarding exempted refineries while disadvantaging the majority of refiners who are not exempted. This highlights the need for legislative reform to ensure the RFS delivers certainty, supports investment, and maintains a reliable fuel supply.”

ACE, EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA, RFS

RFS Set 2 Announced at White House Farmer Event

Cindy Zimmerman

Hundreds of farmers and ranchers representing various regions and commodities joined President Donald Trump on the south lawn of the White House Friday to hear him make several announcements related to agriculture, including addressing Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) system complaints, and finalizing historically high Renewable Fuel Standard volume obligations.

“I’m also announcing a dramatic update to the Renewable fuel standards for 2026 and 2027,” said President Trump. “We will now be requiring the highest volumes of renewable fuels in history. These new standards will generate over $10 billion of rural economic benefit, create an estimated 100,000 new jobs, and massively increase our nation’s energy supply. It’ll come right out of the farms.”

EPA is also finalizing a 70 percent partial reallocation of the 2023–2025 exempted Renewable Volume Obligations for the 2026 and 2027 compliance years. This approach will balance a number of factors that come into play when considering volume requirements and the impacts of SREs, including protecting biofuel demand while maintaining a stable and functioning credit market.

EPA is announcing that starting in 2028, foreign fuels and feedstocks will receive half the RFS compliance value compared to American-made products, providing American biofuel producers with time to prepare for the change while ensuring that American farmers benefit from the RFS program and American energy independence.

President Trump also mentioned the E15 action taken by EPA earlier this week and urged Congress to make it permanent. “To help lower gasoline prices for farmers and consumers, this week I issued an emergency order to allow immediate sales of E15. And just as I promised in the campaign, I’m seeking congressional action to allow E15 all year round, okay? And I’m trusting Speaker Johnson and Leader Thune, they’re two good men. I’m trusting them to find a deal that works for farmers, consumers, and refiners, including small and mid-sized refiners. And they’re going to send me a bill, and we should be able to get that done. We’ve worked with the refiners before, and we’re going to get that done.”

Listen to all of Trump’s comments to farmers and ranchers here:
President Trump speaks to farmers at White House 35:47

Audio, biofuels, E15, EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFS

Poll Finds Overwhelming Support for E15 to Lower Prices

Cindy Zimmerman

A new poll from Morning Consult, conducted for the Renewable Fuels Association, finds an overwhelming majority of registered voters support expansion of the lower-cost E15 fuel blend and legislation to make the fuel permanently available year-round and nationwide.

“These polling results send a clear and unequivocal message to policymakers: American voters want expanded access to lower-cost E15—and they want it now,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “By a margin of eight-to-one, voters who expressed an opinion on E15 support efforts to broaden the availability of this more affordable, cleaner-burning fuel. It’s time for Congress to listen to American voters and get the job done. Hardworking families across the country clearly understand that E15 can help them save money, while enhancing our national energy security at a time of great uncertainty. Many in Congress have voiced support for passing year-round E15 legislation, but now it’s time for action.”

The survey of more than 2,000 registered voters indicates that 71 percent support efforts to increase the availability of E15. Only 12 percent of voters oppose expanding E15, with 17 percent expressing no opinion. Meanwhile, two-thirds of voters (66 percent) support the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, which would make E15 available year-round by removing an outdated regulatory barrier. Only 15 percent of respondents oppose the legislation. When considering only those respondents who expressed an opinion (i.e., removing those “don’t know” and “no opinion” responses), 85 percent support increasing the availability of E15, while 82 percent support the legislation as a way to help lower fuel prices and support energy independence.

In addition, the poll found 81 percent of respondents are concerned about gas price fluctuations, with 51 percent being “very concerned.” Moreover, 67 percent said rising gas prices would affect their vote in the upcoming midterm elections, with only 27 percent saying higher prices will have little or no impact on their vote. And, by a margin of six-to-one, respondents said the current situation in the Middle East makes them more supportive of policies that promote American-made biofuels like ethanol.

Almost 90 percent believe it is important for America to be energy independent (up 10 percentage points from December’s polling), and 80 percent think renewable fuels like ethanol are important to American energy independence.

Finally, with EPA on the edge of finalizing 2026-27 Renewable Fuel Standard volumes, respondents were asked about exempting small refiners from their biofuel blending obligations. Of those who had an opinion on the matter, 72 percent said oil companies should be required to meet current biofuel blending requirements and only 28 percent believe the government should allow oil companies to avoid blending requirements.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Groups Urge Reasonable Guidelines for Aviation Tax Credits

Cindy Zimmerman

Over 20 agricultural and biofuels groups sent a letter this week to administration officials urging them to establish reasonable guidelines that will allow farmers to benefit from the 45Z clean fuel production tax credit, which is designed to facilitate the sale of ethanol and other biofuels in the aviation sector.

The letter was sent to officials at Treasury, the Department of Agriculture, Department of Energy and the White House and signed by a range of groups, including the National Corn Growers Association, National Sorghum Producers Association, Renewable Fuels Association, National Oil Seed Processors Association, and Clean Fuels Alliance of America.

Ag groups are urging the agencies to provide a seat at the table for farmers and recognize their long-standing use of conservation practices, such as cover crops and no-till or strip-till.

“Farmers often must make significant capital investments in equipment, absorb variable costs such as cover crop seed, and undertake significant management changes,” the letter said. “Clear 45Z guidance is critical for farmers and their lenders to plan with confidence. Without regulatory certainty on the inclusion of on-farm practices, those incentives will not materialize at the scale necessary to drive participation.”

Agri-Pulse Ag and Food Summit panel on renewable fuels

The issue was a topic at the Agri-Pulse Ag and Food Policy Summit on Monday in the first two panels.

“We are eagerly awaiting guidance from USDA for that tax credit around the crediting of these agricultural practices that served to achieve that end,” said Tom Michaels with United Airlines during the first panel which focused on mapping out a comprehensive U.S. renewable fuels strategy. “We made about 1% of our fuel from SAF this past year, which is a huge increase over where we were just a few years ago. But we really do see that demand exploding. And that’s really exciting, I think, for the ag sector, because while currently most of that fuel is derived from waste products like fats, oils, and greases, there’s a hard limit on how much of that is out there, and we’re going to need crop-based feedstocks to feed that demand.”

The second panel on new uses to drive value-added demand also touched on the tax credit because of its significance in opening both aviation and maritime markets for crop-derived fuels. “With 45Z, as they were talking about in the earlier panel, we’re invested, we’re trying to be ready for when we get that green light,” said Kansas farmer Amy France, National Sorghum Producers chair. “We’ve done things different the last growing season. We’ve taken pictures. We’ve been even better with our data. And now we’re sitting here, now what do we do? And will we actually get money back in my farmer pocket?”

Listen to the panels:

Mapping out a comprehensive U.S. renewable fuels strategy
Ben Kruger, Roeslein Renewables
Louis Sola, Thorn Run Partners
Anne Steckel, Ardent Strategies
Tom Michels, United Airlines
Devin Mogler, National Oilseed Processors Association
Agri-Pulse Summit panel one 43:37

New uses to drive value-added demand
Gregory Jaffe, Jaffe Policy Consulting LLC
Sean Arians, National Corn Growers Association
Amy France, National Sorghum Producers
Lindsay Fitzgerald, Gevo
Agri-Pulse Summit panel two 40:25

Agri-Pulse, Audio, aviation biofuels, Biodiesel, Carbon, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association

EPA Announces Waiver to Allow Summer Sales of E15

Cindy Zimmerman

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin at USDA National Ag Day event Tuesday

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin today issued a temporary emergency fuel waiver to allow nationwide sales of E15 and to remove all federal impediments to selling E10.

Beginning on May 1, 2026, EPA’s waivers will work to prevent disruption in America’s fuel supply by keeping E15 on the market and giving Americans more fuel options. EPA is issuing the waiver notice today to allow fuel industry stakeholders adequate time to transition the fuel distribution system. As required by the CAA, EPA and DOE evaluated the current situation and determined that granting the waiver was in the public interest.

After appearing at agricultural events Monday and Tuesday of this week and saying little about E15, Zeldin made the announcement today at CERAWeek, an annual energy conference held in Houston, Texas and organized by S&P Global. Zeldin spoke first in the briefing room at the event, appearing later in a dialogue with CERAWeek Chairman and S&P Global Vice Chairman Daniel Yergin.

In the advisory from EPA, it was made clear that today’s announcement was not “regarding the Renewable Fuel Standard Set 2 Rulemaking.” There is still the upcoming event at the White House on Friday with farmers and biofuel advocates where it is expected the RVO details will be released, although Zeldin has only said it happen by March 31.

Ethanol industry stakeholders immediately thanked the administration for taking the action, while noting a permanent legislative solution allowing year-round E15 is still needed.

“With geopolitical conflict roiling energy markets worldwide, we applaud President Trump and Administrator Zeldin for acting quickly and decisively to combat potential fuel shortages and help keep a lid on gas prices this summer. Today’s action will allow maximum flexibility and fuel fungibility in the marketplace, which is exactly what the supply chain needs right now,” Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper said. “For the economic and energy security benefits of E15 to be fully realized, the marketplace needs stability and long-term certainty. Consumers, fuel producers, and farmers alike desperately need Congress to pass legislation that would deliver permanent year-round access for E15 and finally break the cycle of ad hoc, stop-gap emergency waivers.”

“If ever there were justifiable conditions to merit an emergency waiver for E15, it would be now as fuel prices have skyrocketed from war with Iran and a historical oil market disruption in the Strait of Hormuz,” said American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings. “Despite this action, Congress must still act quickly. ACE made year-round E15 access a top priority during our DC Fly-In this month, and we’re grateful to our members and Congressional champions who continue to advocate on this issue. Enactment of E15 legislation has recently been held hostage by a handful of small and mid-sized oil refiners trying to line their pockets at the expense of American consumers and farmers. Instead of letting these disingenuous concerns by a small subset of refiners, some whom are Fortune 500 companies, stall action, Congress should stand with the supermajority of oil refiners who have united with agriculture, biofuel, and fuel retail groups in favor of bipartisan action from Congress on year-round E15.”

E15, EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Senate Ag Chair Explains E15 Refinery Issue

Cindy Zimmerman

Senate Agriculture Committee Chair John Boozman (R-AR) sat down with Agri-Pulse Editor-in-Chief Philip Brasher Monday during the Ag and Food Policy Summit and explained what the real issue is with E15 legislation in Congress as he sees it.

Boozman said it started last year when Big Oil suddenly came out opposed to year-round E15. “And then they came out a few months ago, and said, we’re for it, but you’ve got to get rid of these small refineries. And I happen to have one in my state. It’s the only refinery in my state that produces gasoline and jet fuel, things like that, literally serves the entire southern part of our state, including the jet fuel for our airport in Little Rock. So it’s a big deal,” said Boozman, adding that is the case with refineries in several other states, which puts lawmakers like him in a difficult position. “So we’re very much in favor of getting E-15 done. I’m very much in favor of the Fisher Bill, you know, that does that, but I’m not in favor of somehow the big oil refineries, forcing consolidation with a smaller one, especially during this time.”

Boozman believes Congress ultimately can get it done, and it possibly can be included in the Senate version of the farm bill. “I’m also on the Environment and Public Works Committee….What we need to do is get them to sign off on it. So we’re talking to them, and ..if we can get that signed off, you know, we would be glad to stick it in there.”

Boozman added that E15 is at the top of Senator Thune’s priorities. “He understands, he wants to get these things done, and is counting on us to to push it forward.”

Listen to Sen. Boozman at the Agri-Pulse Summit:
Agri-Pulse Summit Sen. Boozman 24:16

Agri-Pulse, Audio, E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News, farm bill