Ethanol Groups Urge CARB to Swiftly Issue E15 Guidance

by Erin Krueger (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy, the American Coalition for Ethanol and the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association are urging the California Air Resources Board to issue quickly issue guidance allowing E15 sales.

California in early October became the final U.S. state to approve the sale of E15 when California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 30, a bill that will allow E15 to be sold within the state while the California Air Resources Board completes its ongoing work to study whether the fuel blend can meet the state’s clean air requirements.

CARB on Oct. 14 held a scoping workshop focused on E15 use in California and opened a public comment period. The RFA, Growth Energy, ACE and the IRFA are among the groups that submitted written comments to the agency ahead of the Nov. 19 public comment period deadline.

The RFA voiced strong support for immediately expanding access to E15 in California and urged CARB to quickly clarify remaining questions regarding the immediate implementation AB 30 while working in parallel to update state gasoline regulations to allow E15.

“The legislative intent of AB 30, which was signed into law on October 2, is crystal clear,” wrote Geoff Cooper, president and CEO of the RFA. “The bill, which passed unanimously out of both the Assembly and Senate, authorizes E15 as a legal fuel in California, with the intent that retailers may immediately offer the fuel if they choose to do so. In addition, Governor Newsom has indicated the urgency of allowing California drivers to access E15, directing CARB more than one year ago to ‘prioritize resources that would allow for the expeditious completion of this process.’ Thus, to honor the statutory purpose and intent of AB 30 and the Governor’s directive, RFA strongly encourages CARB to prioritize immediate implementation of AB 30 so that California fuel retailers can offer E15 as soon as possible.”

ACE is also calling for swift implementation of E15 guidance. Current regulations don’t cover E15 specifications or regulatory enforcement, so ACE underscored the urgency of CARB categorizing E15 as a gasoline-grade fuel, given the recent authorization of E15 sales through the passage of AB 30 and 14 years of safe, real-world use nationwide.

“We urge CARB to move quickly with a clear statement that the sale of E15 is allowed in California, and provide guidance promptly, so California fuel marketers can begin offering the low-cost and clean fuel to consumers immediately,” stated Ron Lamberty, ACE chief marketing officer, in written comments.

Lamberty emphasized that E15’s safety and compatibility are well established through U.S. EPA and U.S. Department of Energy research and more than a decade of everyday use by millions of motorists.

“E15 is no longer a new, untested product. We now have 14 years of safe, real-world use in unmodified tanks, lines, and dispensers at thousands of retail stations,” Lamberty noted.

The organization urged CARB to classify E15 as a standard gasoline grade—consistent with federal treatment—to avoid unnecessary costs and consumer confusion.

“Treating E15 as an alternative fuel would increase the cost for retailers and confuse drivers, limiting its use and reducing the air-quality benefits for California,” Lamberty wrote.

ACE’s comments also highlighted that California’s fueling infrastructure is already largely compatible with E15. To help retailers verify compatibility, Lamberty pointed CARB to the Flex Check tool on the organization’s website flexfuelforward.com, which allows marketers to check whether existing tanks, lines, dispensers, and hanging hardware can handle E15.

“The short answer is there should be little or no cost for the majority of California’s fuel terminals and retailers,” Lamberty wrote.

In comments authored by Growth Energy Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley, the organization urged CARB to treat E15 the same way it treats reformulated gasoline (RFG), allow fuel retailers to use existing infrastructure to sell E15, and recognize E15’s lower evaporative emissions compared to other fuel options, among other recommendations.

“E15 will save Californians money at the pump,” said Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy. “CARB must ensure that the regulations it applies to this more affordable fuel choice don’t impede consumers from accessing those savings. We urge California to follow the example of other states that have widely adopted E15 in order to minimize unintended consequences, and we look forward to continuing our work with CARB to make sure California drivers start to see E15 at their nearest fuel retailer as soon as possible.”

The IRFA urged CARB to to avoid an unnecessary delay and embrace a proactive approach to enabling E15 availability across the state, concluding: “E15 can help reverse the increasingly high cost of fuel that has put a financial strain on motorists in California – if the correct regulatory framework is established. IRFA urges CARB to create a safe and secure regulatory pathway for E15 to expeditiously achieve widespread consumer access.” READ MORE

Excerpt from Energy.AgWired.com: In the latest Ethanol Report podcast, Cooper says one specific sticking point concerns the certification of vapor recovery equipment for E15. “It’s the stage two vapor recovery equipment that exists at California retail stations. No other state has that equipment still in place, but California does. And so there’s been just some some technical glitches in getting the clarity and certainty that the marketplace needs from CARB on the suitability of that equipment for E15. But we think we’re very close to having that.”

Cooper is confident that hurdle will be overcome very soon. “We are very hopeful that by Christmas time, Californians are going to have a nice Christmas surprise and be able to buy that lower cost cleaner fuel.” READ MORE/LISTEN

At this time last year, the ethanol industry was optimistic Congress would be passing a Continuing Resolution that included approval for nationwide, year-round E15, but no one thought California would ever allow sales of E15, despite being a huge seller of E85.

This year, the industry is grateful to have legislative approval for E15 sales in California, while Congressional approval once again remains elusive on the federal level. In this episode of The Ethanol Report podcast, Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper breaks down where we are right now on E15, as well as other unfinished business in Congress, and why the industry has much to be thankful for in 2025.