It was October of 2025 when the California legislature approved the sale of 15% ethanol fuel in the state, which was intended to happen immediately, yet six months later E15 remains on the leash in the Golden State.

The hold up is because of California’s unique stage two vapor recovery equipment, which the state Fire Marshall claims has yet to be approved by Underwriters Laboratory for E15 use despite the manufacturers’ claims that it is compatible.

During a panel on Unleashing E15 at last week’s National Ethanol Conference, Alessandra Magnasco with the California Fuels & Convenience Alliance said her members would be thrilled to see California just do away with the stage two vapor recovery equipment.

“They’re actually a lot more expensive than a traditional nozzle. They break and then you have to get a new one. It’s much more expensive. It really is a huge headache,” said Magnasco. “In my humble opinion, they’re really not necessary because we have such a percentage of the number of cars on the road that have the onboard vapor recovery systems that it really doesn’t make sense. But California likes to hold on to every last little vestiges of their old regulations…And so it’s really an outdated relic of the past, but they just don’t want to give it up because they think it’s going to give you that little extra bit of vapor recovery that you wouldn’t have without it.”

Meanwhile, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) is finally at work on regulations for E15 in the state, which had been delayed for so long the legislature took action. Industry consultant Neil Koehler says the process is moving forward.

“We’ve recently had a discussion with CARB staff, and it’s a completely different attitude. It’s not a major rulemaking. It’s a minor rulemaking. We’re going to get it done this year,” said Koehler. “Who knows when it would be effective. It could be January 1 of next year. That would be the earliest, but that’s a lot earlier than had been anticipated, given that they were saying it would be at least a two-year process. So that is very good news.”

Listen to the NEC Unleashing E15 panel, moderated by Robert White, Renewable Fuels Association Senior VP, Industry Relations & Market Development. In addition to Magnasco and Koehler, the panel included Jake Olson, Executive Director of Public Policy, RaceTrac, Inc.

NEC26 Unleashing E15 panel (45:02)