Ethanol Blog: Ag, Biofuels Groups Push E15 Rural Council for Quick Legislative Solution Before Feb. 15 Deadline

February 02, 2026

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by Todd Neeley (DTN Progressive Farmer) With the E15 Rural Domestic Energy Council set to begin work, agriculture, biofuels and petroleum organizations are pushing for the council to quickly reach a legislative solution to make E15 available nationally on a permanent basis.

In a letter to council co-chairmen Reps. Stephanie Bice, R-Okla., and Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, on Friday, the groups said they "stand ready to partner" with the council to "expeditiously" craft legislation for E15.

The groups signing the letter include the Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy, National Corn Growers Association, National Sorghum Producers, Corn Refiners Association, American Farm Bureau Federation, Agricultural Retailers Association, American Petroleum Institute, National Association of Convenience Stores, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, NATSO: Representing American's Travel Centers and Truck Stops, and SIGMA: America's Leading Fuel Marketers.

"We previously supported consensus legislation in H.R. 1346, the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, that was offered for consideration by Rep. Adrian Smith (R-Nebraska) last week before the rules committee," the letter said.

"This legislation, as amended, should significantly inform the council's work and provides the best starting point for any further deliberations. Second, the time window for arriving at a recommended legislative solution is short, with the council expected to submit a legislative solution to the full House by Feb. 15, only 16 days from today."

An expedited process, the letter said, is needed as farmers are making planting decisions, and that a "legislative fix is needed as soon as possible to provide fuel producers and retailers with a predictable policy framework as we approach the summer driving season."

The groups said a lack of action could "disrupt the fuel supply chain, negatively impacting the availability of fuel."

In addition, groups said the need to identify and encourage new domestic markets for American agriculture is "critical as risk" of bankruptcy for American farmers is the highest it's been in nearly 50 years.

"To achieve a solution in short order, we hope you will take our proposals under consideration and build upon H.R. 1346 through the framework of the council," the letter said.

"With a limited timeline of less than three weeks, we would recommend keeping a narrow scope related to the production and sale of E15 by building off the work of H.R. 1346. Limiting the scope of the council's work to the extent of the issues in this proposal helps to provide the council with the ability to meet this expedited deadline. If this council delves into other issues, it will put at risk the timeline to complete action on this important priority."

In addition, the groups are calling for the council to "prioritize transparency" and to solicit feedback from stakeholders in the agriculture, biofuels, refinery, and fuel retail sectors.

"Finally, we must remind the council that the legislative proposal offered last week by Rep. Adrian Smith during the Rules Committee meeting on H.R. 1346 has broad support from the overwhelming majority of biofuels, agriculture, fuel retail, and oil refining interests, and is the most comprehensive pathway to a legislative solution," the letter said. READ MORE

Related articles

Ag groups, API urge E15 council to stay focused, keep deadline (Agri-Pulse)
Opinion: Republicans aren’t done fighting for year-round, nationwide E15 (Agri-Pulse)
Broad Coalition of Farm and Fuel Leaders Rally Behind Immediate E15 Fix (Renewable Fuels Association)

Excerpt from Agri-Pulse: This month, Congress was set to enact permanent, year-round E15 nationwide as part of a final package of funding bills. To my disappointment, at the last minute, the deal went sideways, and E15 was dropped.

This was bad news for consumers and the farm economy that is already hurting under high input costs spiked by inflationary Biden-era policies.

Thankfully, it’s not the end of the story. While I’m frustrated it’s taken this long to secure year-round E15 through legislation, congressional Republicans aren’t done fighting.

House Republicans created the Rural Domestic Energy Council to advance E15 and other renewable fuels. The council is expected to release proposed solutions as soon as February.

I’m glad my fellow Iowan, Congressman Randy Feenstra, will be co-chairing the council and will help get us across the finish line to permanent, year-round E15 nationwide.

In his recent trip to Iowa, President Donald Trump backed Iowans and endorsed E15.

He committed to signing year-round E15 into law, and he called on the House and Senate to pass legislation soon. This personal endorsement from President Trump is very helpful and greatly appreciated.

Trump understands the clear benefits of E15. It’s good for the farm economy, lowering gas prices, the environment and America’s national security. E15 is good, good, good.

Americans are already familiar with E15’s benefits because, since 2019, temporary, summertime sales of E15 have been authorized via presidential waiver.

For four of the past six years, Democrats controlled the White House and Congress. Not only did Democrats fail to pass E15 legislation when they had the chance, they also neglected to reauthorize the 2018 farm bill, leaving family farmers with an outdated farm safety net.

It’s plain as day to both Republicans and Democrats alike that piecemeal waivers will no longer cut it.

Fuel retailers need certainty to invest in the infrastructure needed to support E15 sales, and passing a law will provide that certainty.

What’s more, permanent E15 would provide an additional $14 billion in income for farmers who are eager to earn their paycheck from the marketplace.

As we push ahead on E15, I’m glad to share that congressional Republicans have already taken other important actions to support the family farmer.

As part of the Working Families Tax Cuts law, Republicans made up for partisan gridlock on the farm bill by modernizing the farm safety net and significantly increasing reference prices and crop insurance subsidies.

We’re standing with new farmers by providing more affordable crop insurance for beginning farmers and ranchers in their first ten years of farming.

No one should be punished for choosing to keep a family farm in the family, which is why Trump signed the pro-family farmer tax bill that also permanently boosts the death tax exemption.

Additionally, the law expands critical ag research, increasing the budgetary authority for popular conservation programs by over $16 billion. That’s about a 35% increase in these programs’ baselines.

While the Working Families Tax Cut was a major step forward for family farmers, we know there’s more to be done.

Republicans are diligently working to address the headwinds in the ag economy to avoid a repeat of the 1980s farm crisis.

The next step is for Congress to pass year-round, nationwide E15. It will take a commonsense coalition of lawmakers committed to American agriculture, a clean environment, national security and lowering costs for consumers. Trump stands ready to sign it.

Victory is right around the corner. READ MORE