Ethanol Supporters Set Record Straight on E15

Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

Supporters of E15 legislation in Congress

Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE), co-chair of the biofuels caucus and original sponsor of the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, joined a bipartisan group of his colleagues at a press conference Tuesday urging Congress to lower prices at the pump for consumers and increase much-needed market access for ag producers by passing the bill that will allow year-round access to E15 nationwide.

During his remarks, Smith set the record straight by debunking E15 opponents’ false claims while encouraging his colleagues to support commonsense policy as opposed to political gamesmanship. “Our opponents claim this legislation is an unfunded mandate. That is simply false,” said Smith. “What it does is provide certainty and flexibility for retailers who choose to offer E15 during the remaining three months of the year. It expands consumer choice—it does not impose government mandates.”

“They say ‘E15 raises prices for consumers.’ When in reality, E15 does the opposite. In fact, it has proven to lower prices at the pump by 30 cents per gallon on average. At a time when families are already stretched thin, lower fuel costs matter, and that is exactly what E15 delivers.”

Smith was joined by National Corn Growers Association President Jed Bower, along with U.S. Representatives Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), Michelle Fischbach (R-MN), and Shontel Brown (D-OH). Budzinski stressed the bipartisan nature of the legislation. “I am calling on my colleagues – Republicans and Democrats alike – to come together and finally pass permanent, year-round E15 nationwide,” said Budzinski. “Let’s deliver certainty for our growers. Let’s deliver lower costs for consumers. Let’s strengthen American energy independence. And let’s show the American people that Congress is still capable of coming together to solve real problems.”

Listen to their remarks here:
E15 Congressional presser 27:40

Audio, corn, E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NCGA

Ethanol Advocates Storm the Hill

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RFA members gather on Capitol Hill

Members of the Renewable Fuels Association and other ethanol advocacy groups gathered in Washington D.C. this week to push for passage of long-awaited legislation to eliminate restrictions on year-round sales of E15, the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, which is on the House calendar for consideration Wednesday. RFA also sent a letter to all members of the House of Representatives, urging their support.

“At a time when American families remain highly sensitive to fuel prices, this legislation provides an immediate and practical way to help reduce costs at the pump,” wrote RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “E15 routinely sells for 20 to 40 cents per gallon less than regular gasoline—and often even more during periods of market volatility—giving consumers meaningful savings every time they fill up. In many communities, drivers already actively choose E15 because it is a lower-cost fuel option that also delivers higher octane and strong performance.”

“Expanding year-round access to E15 strengthens domestic energy production, reduces reliance on foreign sources of petroleum, and creates additional market opportunities for America’s farmers and rural communities,” Cooper wrote. “Farmers are not asking for checks; they are asking for fair and consistent access to the marketplace.”

Ethanol producers and corn growers have been working side-by-side this week in the Capitol Hill with renewed hope that the E15 legislation might finally make it over the finish line. “Corn farmers want to sell their products at a fair price in the marketplace, and year-round E15 grows that market for us,” said Ohio farmer and National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) President Jed Bower. “Expanding access to E15 helps create a stronger, more reliable domestic market for corn. It’s a practical way to help absorb U.S. corn supply and boost demand for ethanol and for corn.”

Other farm organizations, including both American Farm Bureau and National Farmers Union, also stressed the importance of getting the bill passed.

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

Countdown to E15 Vote

Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

Gas prices in Waterloo, Illinois on May 5, 2026

This is the week that ethanol supporters have been promised a House vote on legislation to allow uninterrupted sales of E15 and there is some optimism it just might pass this time.

Under the rule adopted during the Farm Bill discussion two weeks ago, the Farm Bill passed by the House can only be sent to the Senate with the E15 legislation. That gives Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Executive Director Monte Shaw hope it will make it this time. “If the last decade has taught us anything, it’s that the path toward nationwide E15 is never straight or easy,” said Shaw. “But with the rule on our side, we are confident that an E15 vote will occur on May 13, and we are confident of growing, bipartisan support on the House floor for E15.”

However, Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper notes that groups supporting the major refining companies blocking the bill continue to spread false information and assert that allowing retail gas stations to voluntarily offer E15 would somehow lead to “higher gas prices” and restricting small refinery exemptions to truly small refining companies would somehow result in “refinery closures” and “lost jobs.”

According to e15prices.com, the average E15 price (reported by real people at real gas stations) in recent weeks has been 42 cents per gallon less than E10 prices at those same stations. That’s a savings of over 10 percent. And when compared to prices for E0 (what many like to call “ethanol-free” gasoline), E15 is typically priced at a discount of $1 or more. Yet, the anti-E15 cabal expects you to somehow believe that voluntary E15 expansion (i.e., NO ONE is asking for E15 to be mandated) mysteriously translates to higher pump prices.

It’s common sense: ethanol costs less than gasoline—a lot less—at wholesale terminals where fuels are blended. Adding more low-cost ethanol will result in a lower price for the finished fuel.

The bill is on the House calendar for Wednesday, May 13. “We know it has the votes to pass,” said Cooper in the latest Ethanol Report podcast. “We’re not giving up. We’re not backing down. And in fact, I think people are more motivated than ever. To to stay vocal, stay loud, stay in front of Congress on this farmers, fuel retailers, oil refiners, ethanol producers. And frankly, anybody who wants lower gas prices is, you know, we need to continue demanding action and ensuring that this vote on year round E15 happens on May 13th and is not further delayed.”

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

ACE Opens Registration for 2026 Annual Conference

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Registration is now open for the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) 39th annual conference, August 19-21, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This year’s theme, “Fueling Freedom,” builds on America’s 250th anniversary celebration in 2026 and highlights how ethanol expands fuel choice, relieves pain at the pump, boosts rural economies, and strengthens U.S. energy security.

The conference will feature two days of general sessions covering a wide range of issues, including:
The latest developments in the E15 and E85 retail landscape,
Policy priorities to expand ethanol demand and unlock new markets beyond light-duty-vehicle use,
Global trade and export opportunities and challenges,
Technology innovations to improve efficiency and profitability.

In addition, breakout sessions will offer attendees a choice of three focused tracks: Leadership & Management, Technology, and Carbon.

For nearly 40 years, The ACE has centered on the people of the ethanol industry—connecting producers, retailers, policymakers, and researchers in a collaborative setting designed to advance shared priorities.

Click here for more information and registration.

ACE, ACE Ethanol Conference, Ethanol

Bayer and bp Partner to Scale Camelina for Biofuels

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Camelina crop – Bayer photo

Bayer and bp announced the establishment of a long-term strategic alliance to jointly scale the crop camelina, under the brand name newgold™, and commercialize camelina starting in North America.

The alliance aims to further develop a reliable intermediate oilseeds market to help meet the growing demand for biodiesel, renewable diesel (RD) and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) markets which is estimated to increase almost threefold to 40 billion gallons by 2040. Bayer will utilize its industry leading expertise in seed technology and extensive farmer customer base, while bp brings expertise in fuels and refining.

This announcement follows Bayer’s acquisition of camelina assets which was announced in January 2025. As Bayer ramps up production in preparation of a full-scale launch, testing of long and short season biotypes is underway. Bayer has already introduced newgold™ camelina in the Northern Plains of the US and Southern Saskatchewan and Southern Alberta regions of Canada.

Camelina has a promising lower-carbon intensity for renewable fuel, offering flexibility to grow in both spring and winter, and requires lower inputs. Camelina is winter hardy, offering pod shatter resistance and drought tolerant characteristics allowing it to be grown on idle or fallow land, or in-between traditional main crop rotations, allowing farmers to avoid potential competition with food production.

Camelina crops sold under the newgold™ seed brand will be designed with the goal of acting as a profit multiplier, giving growers the flexibility to decide how and where it fits best in their operation.

aviation biofuels, Bayer, biofuels, feedstocks, renewable diesel, SAF

Ethanol and DDGS Exports Grow in March

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U.S. exports of ethanol increased four percent in March, while dried distillers grains (DDGS) exports grew by 12 percent the same month, according to the latest trade monitor report from the Renewable Fuels Association.

March ethanol exports totaled 217.8 million gallons (mg) with Canada and the European Union accounting for about 60 percent of gallons shipped and the remainder distributed across an additional 11 markets. Shipments to Canada increased 23% to 75.1 mg, reinforcing its position as the leading destination for denatured fuel ethanol. Meanwhile, exports to the European Union climbed 18% to a six-year high of 58.8 mg, led by strong demand from the Netherlands, and continued to anchor the market for undenatured ethanol. Year-to-date U.S. ethanol exports reached 639.8 mg, running 20% ahead of the same period last year.

U.S. exports of DDGS hit a five-month high of 1.03 million metric tons (mt). Shipments to Mexico recovered, rising 22% to 213,575 mt, while exports to Indonesia jumped 61% to 163,702 mt. Exports to South Korea edged 7% lower to 114,345 mt, while shipments to Vietnam increased 44% to 101,428 mt. Colombia imports declined 15% to 71,515 mt. Collectively, these five markets accounted for about two-thirds of total DDGS exports, with the remainder spread across 26 additional destinations. For the first three months of the year, DDGS exports totaled 2.96 million mt, up 10% from the same period in 2025.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Exports, International, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA, Trade

Ethanol Report on Delayed E15 House Vote

Cindy Zimmerman

It was another roller coaster of a week for the ethanol industry, which expected to finally see E15 legislation make it to the floor of the House for a vote, but instead saw it unexpectedly removed and delayed until a promised vote on May 13.

In this edition of the Ethanol Report podcast, Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper breaks down how the best laid plans for a vote fell apart at the last minute and what comes next.

Ethanol Report 5-1-26 14:18

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, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Ethanol Report, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

BASF and Nutrien Partner to Help Farmers Access Low Carbon Biofuel Markets

Cindy Zimmerman

BASF and Nutrien have announced a new partnership designed to help farmers gain more value from sustainable farming practices already in use by documenting the carbon intensity (CI) of their crops and connecting them with biorefineries.

Under this collaboration, Nutrien agronomists will work directly with growers to optimize yield potential using practical, on-farm sustainability practices, while BASF digital tools – xarvio® FIELD MANAGER and xarvio BIOENERGY – will help connect growers with biorefineries and document the carbon intensity (CI) of their crops. Together, these tools make it easier for farmers to participate in low-CI biofuel programs, including those supported under the Clean Fuel Production Credit (Section 45Z), and prepare for future low-carbon biofuel markets.

xarvio BIOENERGY is an innovative digital platform that tracks and documents the carbon intensity of corn grown for ethanol production in the United States. It provides growers, agronomists, and biorefineries with a reliable way to verify low-CI grain, helping support biofuel production requirements and market participation. When combined with xarvio FIELD MANAGER, which provides field-level agronomic insights, the platform allows verified CI scores to be viewed in a single dashboard. This simplifies record-keeping and traceability for biorefineries and supports regulatory requirements for low-carbon fuels. The work is part of BASF’s Circalo: Low Carbon Intensity Crops program.

aviation biofuels, BASF, biofuels, Carbon, Ethanol, Ethanol News

U.S. Partners Help Philippines Expand E20 Access

Cindy Zimmerman

RFA’s Ed Hubbard (far right) at opening of E20 station in Philippines

The U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council (USGBC) and member representatives recently joined a USDA Trade Mission to Manila, Philippines to maintain momentum for U.S. exporters of ethanol in that country’s growing economy.

Renewable Fuels Association Vice President of Government Affairs Ed Hubbard and Eco-Energy Vice President of Global Trade Hagan Rose were among those who took part in the trade mission, which was headlined by the opening of a retail gas station in Manila carrying gasoline blended with 20 percent ethanol (E20).

The Philippines is the U.S.’ largest ethanol trading partner in Southeast Asia, with more than 101 million gallons of U.S. ethanol exported to the country in 2025. The Philippines E10 mandate, that began in 2013, has delivered a win-win outcome for the U.S.-Philippines economic partnership, and total gasoline demand in the country surpassed two billion gallons for the first time last year.

Ethanol production in the Philippines has increased by nearly 450 percent since the inception of the mandate, and U.S. ethanol now accounts for roughly 45 percent of the country’s total ethanol demand. This mutually beneficial trade relationship, forged through ethanol, helps stimulate further investment in the Philippines domestic ethanol industry, as U.S. ethanol imports help lower the average price of ethanol and gasoline in the country.

The Council’s team met with the Ethanol Producers Association of the Philippines (EPAP) afterward to discuss next steps in expanding E20 access to other regions of the country.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Exports, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA, USGC

Farm Bill Passes House Without E15

Cindy Zimmerman

House Ag Committee Chair Rep. Thompson

The House of Representatives passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 Thursday with a final vote of 224-200 and without a separate bill or an amendment allowing summer sales of E15.

In a statement commending passage of the farm bill, House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) attempted to reassure ethanol stakeholders. “I especially want to thank all parties who were involved in the negotiations that allowed the farm bill to proceed to the floor and secure a future vote on year-round E15. Members of the Biofuels Caucus are tireless champions for rural America, and I look forward to joining them May 13 in advancing that important legislation,” said Thompson.

The bill to amend the Clean Air Act and allow uninterrupted E15 sales without waivers (H.R. 1346) was supposed to be considered as part of a package of five bills, including the farm bill, but it was once again set aside over the concerns of a small group of refineries. “As skyrocketing gas prices persist in the U.S., it’s mind-blowing that Congress continues to let a small handful of refiners hold hostage legislation that simply allows retailers to sell lower-cost E15. ACE will keep helping our bipartisan champions in Congress find a path forward,” said American Coalition for Ethanol CEO Brian Jennings.

ACE, E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News