Ethanol Industry Eyeing March for Year-round E15 Legislation

February 19, 2025

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by Meghan Grebner (Brownfield Ag News) U.S. Congressman Randy Feenstra of Iowa says it’s very possible language for year-round E-15 could be included in the March Continuing Resolution. “In December, we kicked that can down the road until March 15,” he says. “We have another opportunity in March to hook that on to the Continuing Resolution at that time — or the full budget if we pass that. It depends on where we’re going to go. But that’s the vehicle we’re looking for.”

Troy Bredenkamp, senior vice president, government and public affairs with the Renewable Fuels Association says the March CR is the industry’s best shot at getting year-round E-15 across the finish line. “If we miss the March CR than we’re looking at anything else that must pass,” he says.

He tells Brownfield some alternative options include the budget reconciliation bill, the farm bill, or another December spending package. “Which is very similar to where we were last year as that other must-pass piece,” he says. “There’s not a lot of targets of us. The March CR is our earliest and best target. So that’s where we’re putting all of our efforts right now.” READ MORE; includes AUDIO

Related articles

Rep. Feenstra Champions Ethanol at #RFANEC (Energy.AgWired.com; includes AUDIO)
Renewable fuel groups are pushing hard for year-round sales of E15 (RFD TV; includes VIDEO)
E15 ball is in Congress’ court (Politico Pro)
Farmers Call for Immediate Action on E15 (Energy.AgWired.com)
RFA Thanks Attorneys General for E15 Support (Renewable Fuels Association)
Push For Year-Round E15 Faces Uncertainty Amid Broader Budget Battle (Inside EPA)
South Dakota corn continues push for E15 solution (Brownfield Ag News)

Excerpt from Energy.AgWired.com: In his discussion with Cooper, Feenstra touched on a number of topics, from the Inflation Reduction Act and tax credits. Feenstra also met with reporters at the NEC who asked about SAF, farm bill, cuts at USDA, exports and more. Listen below.

Play Rep. Feenstra and Geoff Cooper (22:56)
Play Rep. Feenstra and reporters

READ MORE

Excerpt from Politico Pro: [EPA air nominee Aaron] Szabo and David Fotouhi, the nominee to be EPA’s deputy administrator, agreed that Congress needs to act in order for E15 fuel blends to be available year-round, as underscored by recent actions taken by EPA under Administrator Lee Zeldin. A prior effort to expand E15 during the first Trump administration was struck down in court, Szabo noted under questioning from Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), a vocal ethanol supporter. "And so my view is that if that is the congressional intent, then congressional action is required for EPA to be able to take that on without going through the RVP waiver or emergency waiver process." Fotouhi echoed Szabo: "Yes, we would need a legislative solution." READ MORE

Excerpt from Energy.AgWired.com: The National Corn Growers Association gathered signatures from nearly 9,000 corn growers and advocates from 47 states on a letter that was sent this week to House and Senate leadership calling for legislative action to allow sales of E15 during the summer months.

“A legislative solution for consumers to access year-round E15 comes at no cost yet would provide critical support to our nation’s energy sector, overdue relief to American families, and provide necessary economic security to rural communities,” the letter said.

The letter was sent by the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.).

The sheer number of signatures in the letter is testament to the strong sentiment about increased ethanol demand among farmers, especially as commodity prices drop and input costs increase.

“Standardizing year-round E15 will result in an increase in corn demand of about 2.3 billion bushels per year,” the letter stated. “Considering that about one-third of corn produced in the U.S. is used for ethanol production, this demand creation will result in an impressive improvement in profitability for operations across the nation – and rural communities will reap the benefits.”

Many farmers signed the letter during Commodity Classic in Nashville at the NCGA exhibit. READ MORE

Excerpt from Renewable Fuels Association: The Renewable Fuels Association thanked 16 state attorneys general, led by Iowa’s Brenna Bird, who called on congressional leadership to expedite passage of a bill allowing the year-round, nationwide availability of the lower-cost E15 fuel blend.

“We thank these attorneys general, from Alaska to Florida, for their leadership on a matter of importance to the families in their state, and indeed all 50 states,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “They understand the importance of renewable fuels like U.S.-made ethanol in enhancing American energy independence, helping families save money at each fill-up, reducing pollution and bolstering the rural economy.”

In addition to Bird, other signers include Steve Marshall of Alabama, Treg Taylor of Alaska, James Uthmeier of Florida, Chris Carr of Georgia, Todd Rokita of Indiana, Kris Kobach of Kansas, Liz Murrill of Louisiana, Andrew Bailey of Missouri, Mike Hilgers of Nebraska, Drew Wrigley of North Dakota, Dave Yost of Ohio, Dave Sunday of Pennsylvania, Alan Wilson of South Carolina, Marty Jackley of South Dakota, and John McCuskey of West Virginia.

“American cars already run on E15, the attorneys general write. “And the bipartisan, bicameral Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025 will give all States equal access to E15 year-round. This law will fix the Clean Air Act’s exemption that only allows E10 to be sold year-round—despite E10 and E15 having very similar effects on the environment. E15 gas is also meaningfully cheaper than E10—giving relief to Americans’ wallets. There has never been more support from across the energy industry for this reform.” READ MORE

Excerpt from Inside EPA: A legislative push by biofuels supporters and some oil sector groups to authorize year-round 15 percent ethanol fuel (E15) is facing renewed uncertainty as prospects for the measure to pass as part of a stopgap spending measure fade, scotching hopes of a quick passage through Congress and sending supporters looking for other legislative vehicles. Backers of bipartisan, bicameral bills seeking year-round E15 had earlier pinned their hopes on attaching the legislation to a larger, must-pass bill, such as a continuing resolution (CR) now under negotiation that would extend government funding beyond March 14. Further, biofuels groups are attempting to shoehorn a new bill into any package that would allow them to profit from sales of biofuel to the shipping sector by claiming RFS credits -- a measure they say would be fair recompense for concessions to refiners in the existing E15 bill language that were added to win over support from oil state lawmakers. But the Trump administration and House Republicans are pressing a “clean” CR that would allow them time to work on long-term appropriations legislation that would reflect the Trump agenda.... READ MORE

Excerpt from Brownfield Ag News: The vice president of South Dakota Corn says permanent year-round E15 access would give farmers a reliable market for their grain.

Trent Kubik tells Brownfield, “It’s a cleaner burning fuel. Being homegrown, our corn is one of the most sustainable feedstocks you can use for fuel production. Even beyond E15, there’s a lot more uses for sustainable fuel production.”

Last week, 16 state attorneys general – led by Iowa’s Brenna Bird – called on congressional leadership to expedite passage of a bill allowing the year-round availability of the lower-cost E15 fuel blend.

Kubik says the bipartisan Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025, recently introduced in the U.S. House and Senate, would eliminate the need for emergency waivers from the U.S. EPA.

“We thought we had it done around Christmas time last year with the CR and that got pulled last minute. We’re really trying to push for it. It just makes a lot of sense. We’re using our homegrown corn and fuel. We know E15 is a good blend for all cars. It’s something that we feel strongly can get across the finish line.”

The bill has been supported by the American Petroleum Institute, Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy, National Corn Growers Association, National Farmers Union and the National Association of Convenience Stores. READ MORE