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.