House Republicans Strike Deal to Establish E15 Fuel Council

January 22, 2026

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by Ken Tran and Olivia Gyapong (Bloomberg Government) House Republican leaders struck an agreement with Midwestern GOP lawmakers to establish a rural energy council focused on E15 biofuel, resolving a conflict that threatened to derail the latest government funding package.

The E-15 Rural Domestic Energy Council would be created by the rule to set up debate on the spending package slated for a Thursday House vote. The council is directed to submit legislative proposals to Congress no later than Sunday, Feb. 15, with the goal of considering legislation no later than Wednesday, Feb. 25.

The House Rules Committee will meet Thursday on the council, and will consider a ... READ MORE

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E15 left out of funding bills, Grassley says action likely in February (Brownfield Ag News)
Ethanol politics helps delay spending package (E&E News)
Last-ditch E15 push ends in getting council to develop legislative solution (Agri-Pulse)
RFA ‘Extremely Disappointed’ by Congress’ Failure to Adopt Year-Round E15 (Renewable Fuels Association)
Congress’ “Rural Energy Council” is a Disgrace (Growth Energy)
House rebuffs effort to add ethanol expansion to spending bill (The Hill)
US Congress to create ethanol task force after E15 deal falls through (Reuters)
Corn, Biofuel Lobbies Torch E15 Council as ‘Travesty’ (1) (Bloomberg Government)
Biofuel groups criticize exclusion of E15 in US budget bill (Quantum Commodity Intelligence)
Congress Devastates Supporters as it Punts on E15 (Enegy.AgWired.com; includes AUDIO)
Corn Farmers, Biofuel Groups Furious: E15 Punt Sparks Anger as New House Council Reopens RFS Debate (DTN Progressive Farmer)
E15 left out of funding bills, Grassley says action likely in February (Brownfield Ag News; includes AUDIO)
Including Ethanol Language in Funding Bill Would Save Family Farms (Real Clear Policy)
New demand on the corn horizon? Ag Marketing IQ: Corn supply is off the charts but demand is strong. Year-round E15 would be a game changer for U.S. farmers and grain prices. (Farm Progress)
Ethanol Report on E15 and NEC (Renewable Fuels Association/Energy.AgWired.com; includes AUDIO)
Smith Confirms Commitment to Securing Nationwide Year-Round E15 (Office of Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE 3rd))
Congress Creating Ethanol Task Force After Year-Round E15 Deal Fails (farmdoc/Successful Farming)
Farm and Biofuel Groups ‘Furious’ as Congress Leaves E15 Out of Spending Bill (Successful Farming)
Ethanol allies stumble again in Congress -- Spurned by House leaders on expanding sales of E15 fuel, ethanol advocates dismiss the speaker’s alternative proposal. (E&E News)
House launches biofuels group amid spending brawl -- The working group’s creation is meant to appease lawmakers demanding a vote on a biofuels bill. (E&E News Greenwire)
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Congress Creating Ethanol Task Force After Year-Round E15 Deal Fails (Successful Farming)
Corn, Biofuels Groups Frustrated as Year-Round E15 Bill Stalls, Congress Forms Study Council Instead: Congressman Adrian Smith of Nebraska joined us with the latest on efforts to secure year-round E15 sales. (RFD TV; includes VIDEO)
Iowa corn growers push back after Congress drops E15 policy at last minute (WQAD; includes VIDEO)
Ethanol Push Sees Big Delay After E15 Setback, Trade Group Says (Bloomberg Law/Farm Progress)
Corn Growers Disgusted as Congress Leaves E15 Out of Government Spending Bills (AgWeb)
Van Orden says new Council needed to advance year-round E15 (Brownfield Ag News; includes AUDIO)
Farm and Biofuel Groups ‘Furious’ as Congress Leaves E15 Out of Spending Bill (Successful Farming)
US ethanol industry slams House failure to adopt year-round E15 (Ethanol Producer Magazine)
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Mann optimistic E15 deal can be reached, says farmers would benefit (Brownfield Ag News)
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Excerpt from Illiinois Farm Policy News: Progressive Farmer’s Jerry Hagstrom reported that “a package of funding bills assembled by House and Senate appropriators that needs to pass before the end of January does not contain any more aid for farmers despite a push by some lawmakers.”

“That appropriators agreed on the package of bills released Monday is something of a surprise, but Congress seems poised to pass it by Jan. 30, the date the current continuing resolution funding the government expires,” Hagstrom reported. “A vote is expected in the House this week, with a vote in the Senate next week. There had been an expectation Congress would need to pass a continuing resolution for some agencies, which would have provided a way to add farm aid.”

“Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman, R-Ark., and Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman John Hoeven, R-N.D., said last week the $12 billion Farmer Bridge Assistance Program (FBA) the Trump administration announced in December was not enough and Congress should provide more aid in a continuing resolution,” Hagstrom reported. “The lawmakers had talked about adding as much as $15 billion in aid to a legislative package.”

...

Funding Bills Don’t Include Year-Round E15 Sales Either

E&E News’ Andres Picon reported that “House leaders want to vote Thursday on four fiscal 2026 spending bills — without a provision authorizing year-round E15 biofuel sales despite a last-minute push from farm-district Republicans.”

“The likely omission of the biofuel language — a perennial priority for lawmakers from Midwest and Plains states — bodes well for the bipartisan spending bills and Congress’ effort to avoid a shutdown at the end of next week,” Picon reported. “But it represents yet another setback for the biofuel backers and the agriculture lobby, who worked all day Wednesday to try to get the provision into the ‘must-pass’ spending deal.”

“‘E15 is one of the most important things for folks back home in Iowa, and we’re gonna make sure it gets done,’ said Republican Rep. Zach Nunn, who introduced the biofuel amendment to the spending package,” Picon reported.

“The House Rules Committee called it quits Wednesday night before deciding what amendments to make in order for floor debate. Conservatives were also demanding votes on some of their priorities. The panel plans to reconvene Thursday morning,” Picon reported. “Even if leaders agree to some amendment votes, the ethanol language is unlikely to be added. It could instead ride on a supplemental funding package the Senate may try to pass later this year, POLITICO reported.” READ MORE

Excerpt from The Hill: The House Rules Committee on Thursday advanced a three-bill minibus appropriations package, moving the lower chamber one step closer to meeting the Jan. 30 funding deadline.

The panel advanced the package by a recorded vote of 9-4. It would fund the departments of Defense, Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services, Labor, Education, Transportation and other related agencies.

It will now head to the floor for consideration.

...

One major issue GOP leaders faced was requests from midwestern Republicans to authorize year-round sales of E15 ethanol, a fuel blend with 10.5 percent to 15 percent ethanol blended with gasoline that has historically been restricted in the summer due to concerns about smog.

But GOP leadership reached a deal with the holdouts to create a rural domestic energy council tasking with addressing the authorization of E15 ethanol. The council will be established if the procedural rule on the minibus is adopted. READ MORE

Excerpt from Brownfield Ag News: U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley suggests it will be at least a month before Congress attempts to pass year-round E15.

During a call with ag reporters Thursday, the Iowa Republican told Brownfield House and Senate funding bills that need to pass by the end of January don’t include E15.

“Evidently the appropriations bills will not include anything.”

But he says House Republicans, led by Iowa’s Randy Feenstra, will hold an energy council with E15 holdouts to negotiate acceptable language by February 25th.

“And the whole idea is to overcome the obstacle from the small refineries that held it up, why we aren’t going to have an enactment by January 30th.”

Grassley says E15 legislation could be part of a package that also includes a second round of financial support for farmers.

The Renewable Fuels Association reacted with a news release, saying kicking the can down the road and creating a new council to study future legislative options would just exacerbate the uncertainty and apprehension already being felt across rural America. READ MORE; includes AUDIO

Excerpt from E&E News: Even if leaders agree to some amendment votes, the ethanol language is unlikely to be added. It could instead ride on a supplemental funding package the Senate may try to pass later this year, POLITICO reported.

...

(Republican Rep. Zach) Nunn’s proposed amendment was a version of the “Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act” — H.R. 1346 and S. 593 — from Nebraska Republicans Rep. Adrian Smith and Sen. Deb Fischer.

Supporters made a last-ditch effort to get it included in a spending bill at the end of 2024, and they tried again to get it into the fiscal 2026 defense policy bill.

The language has been nixed each time amid concerns from hard-line conservatives and members who represent certain oil refiners.

The American Petroleum Institute struck a deal with agriculture and biofuels groups earlier this month, sparking more GOP infighting over the legislation.

This latest effort fizzled Wednesday amid opposition from House GOP leaders, a number of Republican senators and the White House.

Trump administration officials believed adding the language to the negotiated spending package would have hurt its chances of passing this week, risking a shutdown after Jan. 30, POLITICO reported.

“It doesn’t belong in an approps bill,” House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.) said of the biofuels proposal. “I’m disappointed anybody would use a rule vote as a weapon to try and get what they want.”

Cole added, “This is the whole funding of the government at stake; you don’t risk it over some personal things.”

Some of the E15 proposal’s backers suggested Wednesday they could threaten to vote against the “rule” for debate of the spending package if they did not get a vote on their amendment. It remains unclear how they will vote on the procedural motion.

“Leadership is committed to getting a solution on E15,” said one House Republican involved in the discussions with leadership, who was granted anonymity to discuss ongoing negotiations. “I can tell you that the members who were involved are absolutely driven to make sure this happens.” READ MORE

Excerpt from Renewable Fuels Association: After weeks of negotiations, it appears that the House funding bill expected to advance today will exclude language that would have allowed nationwide, year-round access to E15, a lower-cost gasoline blend containing 15 percent American-made ethanol. In place of the year-round E15 provision, Congress appears poised to create a new “Rural Domestic Energy Council” that would develop potential legislative proposals on E15 and other renewable fuels issues that could be considered for future adoption.

Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper offered the following comments in response to these developments:

“We are extremely disappointed that Congress appears to have failed again in adopting a simple technical fix that would have made lower-cost, American-made E15 available to consumers nationwide all year long. Allowing year-round E15 would have provided a lifeline to farmers who are facing the worst economic crisis in almost 50 years, while also helping American families struggling with higher energy bills.

“We already have a compromise deal that is broadly supported by ethanol producers, farmers, large oil refiners, several small oil refiners, fuel retailers, and many other stakeholders, but lawmakers appear to be letting it slip away. The current appropriations process was undoubtedly Congress’ best opportunity to open a critical new market for hard-hit farmers and deliver lower gas prices to American families. It is unfathomable to us that just a handful of mid-sized oil refiners, including foreign-owned companies, were apparently able to blow the whole thing up.

“Kicking the can down the road and creating a new council to study future legislative options just exacerbates the uncertainty and apprehension already being felt across rural America. Starting from scratch makes absolutely no sense. Farmers need real solutions right now, not more foot-dragging and more debate. The agriculture sector is facing a historic economic crisis, and the only way out is to immediately open new markets for American crops.

“While this is not the outcome we were pushing for, we are grateful to the many House members and Senators who fought to advance the year-round E15 bill this week. We will continue to join them in pushing harder than ever to secure this badly needed legislation for rural America as soon as possible.” READ MORE

Excerpt from Growth Energy: Growth Energy, the nation’s largest biofuel trade association, issued the following statement after it was announced that a legislative fix for year-round E15 was dropped from the January government funding bill, and that Congress will instead form a “rural energy council” to formulate another compromise bill with petroleum interests, and with expectations for a vote in February.

“Congress picked foreign refiners over American farmers and drivers today. What a travesty,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “E15 delivers cost savings for consumers and generates long-term demand for American agriculture. These have been the facts during the twelve-year-long debate over the simple act of allowing consumers the choice to buy a better value fuel year-round. Failure to act will now lead to farmers missing out on a critical market during the worst farm crisis in 40 years. Consumers will also miss out on access to more affordable fuel choices. Instead of supporting farmers and affordability, Congress appears to have prioritized the demands of a few well-capitalized foreign refiners that plead poverty with lawmakers while boasting financial success with investors.

“This council must deliver a solution for year-round E15. It’s imperative that leaders in Congress focus their energies on getting this over the finish line in an expedited timeline.

“We especially want to thank our congressional champions who have fought to make this issue a top priority for Congress. While the creation of a council to work on E15 legislation falls short of the immediate action we need, Growth Energy intends to fully participate in this process and ensure our champions in Congress have the support they need to deliver a victory for rural America.

“If lawmakers want to show they can still deliver practical solutions—solutions that lower costs, strengthen domestic energy production, and meet Americans where they are—passing year-round E15 is the place to start.” READ MORE

Excerpt from The Hill: Meanwhile, Nunn (Rep. Zach Nunn (R-Iowa)) said in a written statement that Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) “committed to meeting with the White House to finalize a plan on year-round E-15.”

“With the President’s support behind American biofuels, I’m confident we’ll get it done,” he said. READ MORE

Excerpt from Energy.AgWired.com: It’s just too much for National Corn Growers Association President Jed Bower of Ohio. “Corn growers are disgusted, disappointed and disillusioned that after spending years of calling for passage of E15, Congress has again punted, and it has done so in a spectacularly weak and offensive way,” said Bower.

Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper says the decision to create this council was made by House leadership. “The idea is they’re going to keep working on these issues for the next month with the goal of having legislation ready to consider by February 25,” said Cooper, noting that year-round E15 approval costs nothing and would help farmers who are facing the worst economic crisis in almost 50 years.

“And they need real solutions right now. They don’t need more foot dragging, don’t need more debate. We don’t need a council. We don’t need more study on this issue. We just need to get this bill done,” said Cooper. “So we’re just extremely frustrated with the way this played out this week and I hope I’m wrong, but I just don’t have high hopes for the process that this council is going to undertake.” READ MORE; includes AUDIO

Excerpt from DTN Progressive Farmer: Rather than approve year-round E15 for fuel retailers, the House included language in an appropriations bill to create the E15 Rural Domestic Energy Council, which will be appointed by House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., "to develop legislative solutions to address the crisis facing our nation's farmers and refiners."

The bill requires the council to examine not only E15 expansion, but also mandates it to "investigate topics including, but not limited to," E15, U.S. refinery capacity, the Renewable Fuels Standard, EPA's Renewable Identification Numbers, "access to markets, and federal regulations that hinder American energy dominance."

...

"Bizarrely," is how Bower (Jed Bower, president of NCGA and an Ohio farmer) described the new council, created to reset the "beginning stages" of a bill that had already reached agreement between biofuel groups and the petroleum industry.

...

Cooper (Geoff Cooper, president of the Renewable Fuels Association) said a small group of midsized refiners were able to influence lawmakers to block the E15 fix.

"The current appropriations process was undoubtedly Congress' best opportunity to open a critical new market for hard-hit farmers and deliver lower gas prices to American families," Cooper said. "It is unfathomable to us that just a handful of midsized oil refiners, including foreign-owned companies, were apparently able to blow the whole thing up."

...

HOUSE HEARING

The House Rules Committee on Thursday held an "emergency session" to hear testimony for the E15 bill, H.R. 1346, the "Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act." The committee, though, took no action to advance the bill. The hearing essentially gave a handful of lawmakers a chance to testify about the bill and raise complaints about how the issue has been handled.

...

Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-Wyo., tied passage of E15 to the need for relief for small petroleum refiners from blend requirements under the Renewable Fuels Standard. Hageman criticized the effort to push E15 through the appropriations bill rather than through the committee process. She also said she was surprised she was never consulted, even though Hageman represents several small refiners in her state.

Harriet said any changes in the definition of small refineries "will structurally disadvantage refineries in Wyoming and across the country." She added, "Second, we do not need to destroy small refineries in the pursuit of E15."

Small refiners are frequently battling EPA over the Renewable Fuel Standard and its annual blend obligations. Refiners file dozens of exemption requests every year to reduce their blend requirements. Smaller and midsized refiners also have frequently sued EPA if they do not receive a waiver.

Hageman thanked leadership for creating the council to look at rural domestic energy and "to have a more appropriate discussion over the E15 proposal," Hageman said. "I really do look forward to the robust discussion on these incredibly important issues and I am cautiously optimistic that we are going to be able to find a solution to address this matter."

COUNCIL MAKEUP QUESTIONED

Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., ranking member of the Rules Committee, and an Agriculture Committee member, also questioned how the rural energy council will be made up. Lawmakers said they expected it would be bipartisan, but Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, also said he and Rep. Stephanie Bice, R-Okla., will serve as co-chairs of the new council.

"We're still addressing the details on this, but I anticipate it would be bipartisan," said Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Ala., a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Rep. Greg Landsman, D-Ohio, another member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, pointed out the E15 bill nearly passed at the end of 2024 before Tesla CEO Elon Musk pressed House leaders to cut provisions from a funding bill. Landsman also pointed out E15 has bipartisan support.

"It is a retailer choice bill and at a time when our farmers and our constituents really need us to act in a way that is going to help them," Landsman said. He added, "Again, this is a really big deal for farmers who have been hit and it is a very big deal for consumers."

McGovern pointed out the NCGA news release expressing a great deal of frustration over the issue, "because they are like, 'You are just kicking the can down the road,'" McGovern said.

McGovern questioned why E15 legislation hasn't been able to advance when it seems to have bipartisan support. "It seems like we could have found a way to move much quicker on something that has bipartisan support, but that's just me," McGovern said.

NEED FOR MARKET

Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb., was among the lawmakers pointing out farmers need reliable markets and access. The E15 bill expands market access and lowers prices at the pump for consumers. Smith said there was already a lot of agreement among stakeholders on the E15 bill, but still said he is "encouraged" by the creation of the council. Still, Smith added, "Let me be very clear, this council is not a substitute for action, and I refuse to let it be utilized as a delay tactic. It is a results-driven commitment."

Without an E15 fix, Smith said fuel retailers and the biofuel industry would continue to face yearly uncertainty and a patchwork of regulations across different states.

Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, gave emotional testimony about the issue, citing "the existential crisis" facing farmers trying to make a living right now.

"Farmers are rugged individuals ... They are not asking for bailouts. They are not asking for handouts. What they want is to be able to have a market for their product," Miller-Meeks said. She added corn farmers just want a fair deal to a regulation that is outdated, and E15 needs to pass this year. She added that Brazil would increase ethanol production if the U.S. does not.

"We are asking that farmers be treated fairly, that they are allowed to produce and have a market for their crops," she said. "I don't know how many times my colleagues here from the Midwest can tell you of the number of individuals they have met with that are on the cusp of bankruptcy -- that are not planting."

Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., another member of both the Rules and Agriculture committees, said he recognized the blunt frustrations by farm and biofuel groups, but adding authorizing bills into appropriations bills can be "tremendously dangerous." Scott said he has serious reservations over such moves. Still, Scott noted he is hearing from agricultural bankers about the challenges facing farmers.

"There is no commodity when you start putting pencil on the paper that the revenue for that commodity is going to be higher than the cost of production," Scott said. "It has been that way for a while now."

Scott also noted the multiple times Congress and the administration have needed to provide ad-hoc aid in recent years and said another package may be needed this year.

"Our farmers across the country have lost equity that has taken generations to accumulate, much of it in land," Scott said.

See, "House Leaders Reject Effort to Add E15 to Key Funding Bills," .

Also see, "Funding Deal Reached by Congress Doesn't Include More Farm Aid," . READ MORE

Excerpt from Brownfield Ag News: U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley suggests it will be at least a month before Congress attempts to pass year-round E15.

During a call with ag reporters Thursday, the Iowa Republican told Brownfield House and Senate funding bills that need to pass by the end of January don’t include E15.

“Evidently the appropriations bills will not include anything.”

But he says House Republicans, led by Iowa’s Randy Feenstra, will hold an energy council with E15 holdouts to negotiate acceptable language by February 25th.

“And the whole idea is to overcome the obstacle from the small refineries that held it up, why we aren’t going to have an enactment by January 30th.”

Grassley says E15 legislation could be part of a package that also includes a second round of financial support for farmers. READ MORE; includes AUDIO

Excerpt from Real Clear Policy: Need examples?

Any politician wanting to win in the 2026 midterms has got to understand the benefits of saving consumers money at the gas pump thanks to higher blends of ethanol in fuel. It would certainly check the affordability box!

Moreover, members of Congress who want to address some of the nation’s environmental challenges have got to appreciate the fact that selling E15 year-round lowers the nation’s carbon footprint.

And those who care about feeding and fueling America, presumably every member of Congress, has got to love that fact that expanding access to higher blends of ethanol will be helping America’s farmers and rural communities during a very hard economic time.

The nation’s corn growers are facing a once-in-a-generation economic crisis, and these types of economic and financial hardships are never contained to the farm. When farmers are struggling financially, they spend less in their communities, causing local establishments to falter or shut down entirely with implications for the larger economy.

Such a bleak economic outlook is not a foregone conclusion. Congress can act this week to begin to head off such misfortunes by using the funding bill as a vehicle to allow for the year-round sale of E15.

We are running out of time, and the stakes are sky high. There is a lot to lose, not the least of which is economic survival for rural America.

Jed Bower, an Ohio farmer, is president of the National Corn Growers Association. READ MORE

Excerpt from Renewable Fuels Association/Energy.AgWired.com: To say that ethanol supporters are disappointed by the inability of Congress to include nationwide, year-round E15 in the must-pass funding bill this past week is an understatement. Corn farmers and ethanol producers are expressing outrage, disillusionment, and even betrayal after weeks of working on compromise wording for a problem the industry has been trying to get fixed for more than a decade.

The new “Rural Domestic Energy Council” that Congress has created instead of taking action has a deadline of February 25 to come up with a plan – with is right in the middle of the Renewable Fuels Association’s National Ethanol Conference in Orlando next month. In this edition of The Ethanol Report, RFA president and CEO Geoff Cooper discusses how the E15 compromise in Congress fell apart and how the industry will move forward at the NEC. READ MORE/LISTEN

Excerpt from RFD TV:

Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw says the measure was expected to be included in a spending bill due at the end of January.

“It was supposed to be in a spending bill, one of those spending bills that’s coming due. They’re called mini-buses, continued resolutions (CRs),” Shaw explains. “All this stuff is coming due at the end of January, from when we had the government shutdown before. It was supposed to be in there. It was agreed to be in there, and then some senators from primarily oil states got it pulled out.”

Instead of moving forward with a separate bill, the House Rules Committee has now approved the creation of a special council to study year-round E15 sales. The move has drawn criticism from agricultural stakeholders.

National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) President Jed Bower says corn growers are “disgusted, disappointed, and disillusioned” after years of pushing for E15 passage, adding that Congress has again delayed action in what he described as a “spectacularly weak and offensive way.” Bower also criticized the plan to establish a rural energy council, saying it treats E15 as if discussions are just beginning.

The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) is also calling for E15 to be written into law. Economists there say expanding year-round E15 is one way to help use the current crop surplus. AFBF economist Dr. Faith Parum joined us on Thursday’s Market Day Report to speak on AFBF’s push to increase domestic demand for ethanol as an effective way to help stabilize farm markets and prices.

“Increasing domestic demand, anyway possible to help keep these farmers’ markets and have steady prices. One really easy way is year-round E15,” Parum said. “That would be an easy button for Congress that would really help our corn growers. But any types of market demand increases will be great for our farmers and ranchers.”

...

Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE) joined us on Friday’s Market Day Report to discuss the growing concerns of farmers, traders, and lawmakers who hoped to see year-round E15 included. Smith addressed his own frustration with the omission and explained what happened when the House instead agreed to form a committee to study year-round sales — a move that drew criticism from the NCGA.

...

In his interview with RFD NEWS, Smith addressed the backlash from biofuel groups, including Growth Energy, which has sharply criticized the process, and responded to those concerns, outlining what the next week could look like as lawmakers work toward passing a new spending bill before the current one expires.

Smith also discussed a path forward for growers if year-round E15 sales are not secured and shared a message of optimism amid uncertainty about grain supplies, which remain elevated. He closed with final thoughts on the outlook for E15 and agricultural priorities moving forward.

Senate agriculture lawmakers are also weighing in on the push for year-round E15 sales. Senate Ag Committee Member, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), told reporters this week that the issue needs to be made permanent through legislation. He said the industry needs a law that provides long-term certainty and encourages retailer investment in pump infrastructure to enable E15 and higher blends.

“We need a law that says that this is going to be something that’s going to last forever,” Sen. Grassley said. “And that it’s going to get the investment that it needs from the retailers to put in the pumps and change their pumps to allow E15 all the way up to E85. And it’s not a simple process of just putting a certain amount of gas.”

Grassley added that work must continue in the weeks ahead to secure year-round E15 in law. The Senate returns to work on Monday, with the current government spending bill set to expire on Friday. READ MORE; includes VIDEO

Excerpt from WQAD: Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa said a task force led by U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra will work to revive the plan, but acknowledged significant opposition remains.

Mark Mueller, president of the Iowa Corn Growers’ Association and a farmer near Waverly, said the setback is deeply concerning for producers facing tight margins.

“I’m exasperated,” Mueller said. “I’ve got to tell you, I am nervous for the profitability of my farm. We made money last year barely, but we still made money. I can't say if we'll make money this year, but I sure as hell could use another market to sell my corn to.”

Mueller said year‑round E15 access would help expand demand in a saturated corn market that saw near‑record production last year. He added the proposal would not have cost the federal government anything.

“It simply said, yeah, go ahead and use E15 year round,” Mueller said. “And if people don’t want to use it, they don’t have to.”

Instead of becoming law, the proposal now heads back to negotiations. Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa said a task force led by U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra will work to revive the plan, but acknowledged significant opposition remains.

“The whole idea is to overcome the obstacle from the small refineries that held up why we aren’t going to have an enactment by January 30,” Grassley said.

Grassley said he was surprised the provision was removed, noting he believed a compromise had already been reached.

“I thought that there was already compromise worked out, everything I heard from my colleagues and from even some refineries,” he said.

Mueller agreed the petroleum industry’s influence remains a major barrier.

“If you took 5% more ethanol into each mix, that’s 5% less gasoline that they get to sell,” Mueller said. “So the petroleum industry is very powerful in Washington.”

Grassley said the task force is expected to bring recommendations back by mid‑February, with a possible vote by Feb. 25. Farm groups like Mueller's say the longer the issue drags on, the greater the risk it becomes entangled in election‑year politics. READ MORE; includes VIDEO

Excerpt from AgWeb: Corn Growers Disgusted

In a statement National Corn Growers Association president Jed Bower said corn grower were disgusted, disappointed and disillusioned after spending years of calling on Congress to pass E15. “I met with Speaker Johnson back in November. He said he was frustrated because DOGE had pulled this out last year. He said he would get something done and here we are again. The same thing we get all the time. Let’s step on and push on the farmers because there’s not very many of them and we can get away with it.” READ MORE

Excerpt from Brownfield Ag News: A Wisconsin Congressman says forming the Rural Domestic Energy Council was necessary to move nationwide year-round E15 forward.

Third District Republican Derrick Van Orden says the failure to include E15 language in last week’s spending bill breaks down to a shouting match between big and small oil refineries. “The big refineries wanted stuff. The small refineries wanted things, and we have people on both sides that represent, like Harriet Hageman, she doesn’t have a big refinery in the whole state of Wyoming, so if this would have been in there, she wouldn’t have voted for the bill and then the funding bill wouldn’t go through, and the government would shut down.

Van Orden says forming the Rural Domestic Energy Council is the right move, as it forces Congress to reach a consensus quickly. “We want the legislation done by the 15th (of February) so it can be circulated for ten days. That’s the rough plan right now.”

Van Orden says President Trump supports E15 and with Congressional action or with another waiver, consumers will have a ruling on E15 soon so farmers, refiners, and the supply chain are ready for this summer.

Van Orden says he’s frustrated the U.S. doesn’t already have year-round nationwide E15, and he wants to make sure the council’s discussion does not reset or rehash years of work already completed but instead builds on existing agreements and negotiations to deliver real, actionable results for farmers and ethanol producers. Van Orden says he would like to make the council permanent to address other issues including renewable diesel, and he says a similar council should be formed to hammer out a consensus on ag labor.VanOrden says larger refineries have been skirting the intentions of existing law. “These larger conglomerates have been getting a bunch of small refineries and operating them under a large umbrella and saying that they’re independent small refineries, which they’re not. READ MORE

Excerpt from Successful Farming:

American Coalition for Ethanol

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) is made up farmers, ranchers, Main Street businesses, scientists, investors, and renewable fuel producers who work together to inform consumers and elected officials that, in addition to helping keep gas prices low, creating jobs, improving the economy, displacing foreign oil, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, ethanol delivers a great deal of human good.

ACE CEO Brian Jennings issued the following comments Thursday after House leadership chose to omit the E15 legislation from the spending package.

“We expect Congress to adopt bipartisan legislation to finally allow retailers the option to offer E15 to their customers on a year-round basis before the summer driving season. Any new legislative package considered by Congress must expand, not limit, market access for ethanol.

“As rural America copes with some of the toughest economic conditions in a generation, Congress must meet the moment and finally make E15 year-round a reality. It is a commonsense solution that can immediately boost demand for corn, strengthen farm income, and save motorists money at the pump."

Proposed Funding Bills Don’t Include Farm Aid, E15

American Soybean Association

The American Soybean Association (ASA) represents U.S. soybean farmers on domestic and international policy issues. ASA has 26 affiliate state associations representing 30 soybean-producing states and nearly 500,000 soybean farmers.

ASA released a statement Monday "warning of threats to the integrity of longstanding U.S. biofuel policies following the House of Representatives’ establishment of the E15 Rural Domestic Energy Council."

“The American Soybean Association appreciates the continued work of the House of Representatives to champion domestic biofuel production, but the broad latitude provided to the E15 Rural Domestic Energy Council creates new threats to programs U.S. soybean farmers rely on to advance the production of soy-based fuels,” said ASA President and Ohio farmer Scott Metzger. “ASA supports the sale of year-round E15 but is concerned about the Council’s review of longstanding bipartisan policies that promote the production and consumption of biodiesel, renewable diesel, and other biofuels derived from soybeans. Congress and members of the Council must guard against all efforts that seek to weaken the Renewable Fuel Standard and other policies U.S. soybean farmers rely on for domestic market demand. The open-ended directives of this Council create a dangerous precedent that threatens the foundation of the U.S. biofuel industry. The Council should not open 25 years of RFS program success during only a few weeks of review.”

Growth Energy

As the nation’s largest biofuel trade association, Growth Energy is the leading voice of America’s biofuel industry. Members of the association operate and support biomanufacturing facilities at the heart of America’s bioeconomy, delivering a new generation of plant-based energy and climate solutions.

Growth Energy published a statement Thursday titled, “Congress’ ‘Rural Energy Council’ is a Disgrace.”

“Congress picked foreign refiners over American farmers and drivers today. What a travesty,” Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor said. “E15 delivers cost savings for consumers and generates long-term demand for American agriculture. These have been the facts during the 12-year-long debate over the simple act of allowing consumers the choice to buy a better value fuel year-round. Failure to act will now lead to farmers missing out on a critical market during the worst farm crisis in 40 years. Consumers will also miss out on access to more affordable fuel choices. Instead of supporting farmers and affordability, Congress appears to have prioritized the demands of a few well-capitalized foreign refiners that plead poverty with lawmakers while boasting financial success with investors.

“This council must deliver a solution for year-round E15. It’s imperative that leaders in Congress focus their energies on getting this over the finish line in an expedited timeline.

“If lawmakers want to show they can still deliver practical solutions — solutions that lower costs, strengthen domestic energy production, and meet Americans where they are — passing year-round E15 is the place to start.”

Iowa Corn Growers Association

The Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) is a 7,500-member strong grassroots-driven organization, headquartered in Johnston, Iowa, serving members across the state, and lobbying on agricultural issues on behalf of its farmer members to create opportunities for long-term Iowa corn grower profitability.

ICGA President Mark Mueller, a farmer from Waverly, Iowa, released the following statement of frustration Thursday.

“Iowa’s corn growers are frustrated and disappointed that after spending years advocating and sharing the benefits for all Americans that comes with the passage of E15, Congress has again kicked the can down the road. There is now talk that members of Congress are planning to establish a rural energy council to explore this legislation. We have worked on E15 for years. We already have a bill. We have already come to an agreement with the petroleum industry. There is nothing left to discuss.

“Rather than including E15, Congress is now trying to appease farmers with this new task force. The fact that this news comes on the same day that talks of a $1.2 trillion taxpayer government funding package comes out is bizarre. Today, corn is priced below the cost of production when we have a solution with E15 that would add 94¢ per bushel. Farmers don’t want payments. We want markets. But without nationwide, year-round E15, many of us are now going to continue relying on government payments to stay afloat.

“The absence of E15 shows that Congressional Leadership is choosing to side with a handful of non-U.S. based refineries, rather than the American corn farmer.”

Tariff Revenue from Ag Input Imports was Nearly $1 Billion in 2025

National Corn Growers Association

Founded in 1957, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) represents more than 36,000 dues-paying corn growers in 48 states, and the interests of more than 300,000 farmers who contribute through corn checkoff programs in their state.

In response to the developments Thursday, Ohio farmer and NCGA President Jed Bower released a statement titled, “Corn Growers Furious with New Development on E15.”

“Corn growers are disgusted, disappointed, and disillusioned that after spending years of calling for passage of E15, Congress has again punted, and it has done so in a spectacularly weak and offensive way. Bizarrely, members of Congress are now planning to establish a rural energy council to explore this legislation as if we are in the beginning stages of discussing E15. We already have a bill. We already have an agreement with the petroleum industry after months of negotiation. But instead of acting, Congress is now suggesting a process-ridden task force that kicks the can down the road once again. Congress is choosing to leave America’s 500,000 corn farmers behind in favor of a handful of refineries.”

National Sorghum Producers

National Sorghum Producers (NSP) represents U.S. sorghum producers, serving as the voice of the sorghum industry coast to coast through legislative and regulatory representation and education.

NSP issued a statement expressing they’re “deeply frustrated” by Congress.

“Frankly, we’re fed up with the delays,” said NSP Chair Amy France, a farmer from Scott City, Kansas. “E15 is one of the most immediate win-win-win solutions Congress can deliver. It strengthens demand for American-grown feedstocks like sorghum, supports domestic energy production and gives consumers access to a lower-cost fuel option. This is not a new idea — it’s a ready-to-go solution that has been negotiated, vetted, and supported for years. Congress needs to act.”

“At a time when farmers are facing tight margins and rising input costs, it is incredibly disappointing to see Congress stall out on a solution that would provide real, immediate benefits,” France said. “Every month of inaction is a missed opportunity for growers, for consumers and for America’s energy security.”

“We’re grateful to the sorghum belt leaders who have stayed engaged and fought to move this forward,” France said. “Now we need Congress to match that effort with results and deliver the certainty farmers and consumers deserve.”

Study: Iowa Corn and Ethanol Industry Will ‘Continue Downward Trend’ Without New Market Access

Renewable Fuels Association

Since 1981, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) has been the leading trade association for America’s ethanol industry.

RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper offered these comments in response to Thursday’s actions by Congress.

Editor’s note: Some of the previous statements have been edited and/or condensed by Successful Farming for style and clarity. READ MORE

Excerpt from DTN Progressive Farmer: It's difficult to quantify what is at stake for the ethanol industry at this very moment, but the "bright light at the end of a very dark tunnel" could be nationwide year-round E15 -- it could be a freight train loaded with more refined oil barreling the other direction.

The sudden creation of the E15 Rural Energy Council by House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., happened more than a week ago, but there have not been any official details about membership or how the council will operate.

And time is short. Under the legislative mandate creating the council, the group is supposed to propose legislation by Feb. 15. If the House follows the language in the bill, a legislative proposal would come up for a House vote by the end of February.

It should be noted that the appropriations bill that included the E15 Rural Energy Council language remains tied up in the U.S. Senate gridlock amid broader gridlock over federal the funding package. Given that the Senate is changing these bills, the House will have to again vote on the funding measures as well, potentially as soon as Monday.

...

There are a lot of unanswered questions about the E15 Rural Energy Council beyond who gets membership. For instance, will the council be holding public meetings and hearings? Once the council drafts legislation, what's next? Does the council's work then run through the House Energy and Commerce Committee for a full markup? Then, of course, how does any of this ultimately play in the U.S. Senate?

After President Donald Trump spoke Tuesday in Iowa, there was a quick flood of emails from groups praising the president for declaring his support for nationwide year-round sales of E15. Monte Shaw, executive director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, made the "bright light" comment.

But Trump's speech also had a notable tell. In talking about Congress working on a deal for E15, Trump said, "We've got it for farmers, consumers and refiners, including small and mid-sized refiners."

...

The phrase "small and mid-sized refiners" should jump out. There has been an emphasis to protecting small refiners, which is defined under the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) as refiners processing fewer than 75,000 barrels a day of crude oil. The RFS doesn't define "mid-sized refiners" but whoever wrote Trump's remarks had been given enough industry background to insert that distinction.

Biofuel advocates say they had an agreement with the vast majority of oil refiners to get E15 done, but the deal was blown up by six or seven refiners --- oil companies that generate anywhere from $8 billion to nearly $58 billon in annual revenue. These refiners – producing anywhere from 200,000 to nearly 7000,000 barrels of oil per day – have convinced enough lawmakers that they will go into the poorhouse if they lose access to small refinery exemptions (SREs).

Beyond that, they also are pressing to change the Renewable Fuels Standard to lower the costs of Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) as well. Their argument is blunt: without relief, refineries will shutdown and jobs will be lost as a result.

These mid-sized refiners had a down year in 2024, coming off a strong 2023 year for profitability. Even so, most of them remained profitable on a full-year basis and have posted profitable quarters in 2025 as well.

And RINs aren't the problem. EPA issued a report in 2022 concluding that, in general, refiners can and do recover their RIN costs by selling their petroleum blendstock at prices that reflect those RIN costs.

Yet, these refiners are portraying themselves as victims of RFS compliance costs, even as they combine for $170 billion-plus in annual revenue. By comparison, the entire ethanol industry produces about $33-40 billion in ethanol – roughly 16 billion gallons priced at $2.10 to $2.50 a gallon. And this same set of refiners only blend a portion of that ethanol.

But these refiners are going to press their case. They are going to press it hard and they are going to press it fast.

There's a familiar game played on Capitol Hill, as any farmer who has engaged in this process knows. You blitz the Hill with members of your group during the day. Maybe you get a couple of chairmen and ranking members to speak to your group on the Hill or a nearby hotel as well. Then comes the important part: You host a reception -- on the Hill or off -- with food and an open bar. You invite both Senate and House members, and their staffs. You wine and dine.

Right now, there are likely some of these "small and mid-sized refiners" working to set up their blue-collar workers in some five-star Washington hotels, and you can imagine the receptions will be first class as well.

Regardless of the process, farmers and biofuel producers can't afford to sleepwalk through the E15 Rural Energy Council assuming the light at the end of the tunnel won't run them over in the end.

See, "Ag, Biofuels Groups Push E15 Rural Council for Quick Legislative Solution Before Feb. 15 Deadline,"

See, "Trump Backs E15, Champions Trade Deals for Ag at Iowa Rally,"

READ MORE

Excerpt from Brownfield Ag News: A member of the House Ag Committee says increasing access to higher blends of ethanol could help improve the bottom line for farmers.

Tracey Mann, a Republican from Kansas, says passing year-round, nationwide E15 would be a great start. “Let’s let the market work to sort out how much demand there really is in the country for E15. This would be really helpful for our farmers. It wouldn’t cost the government a dime and would reduce regulation.”

Mann sits on the newly created Rural Domestic Energy Council. He tells Brownfield he’s cautiously optimistic a deal can be struck by the end of the moth. “We’ve got to get everyone on board. The biofuels industry, large refiners and small refiners as well to come to an agreement.”

The council was created to develop legislative solutions to address the crisis facing ag producers.

He tells Brownfield all three groups need to find consensus on a path forward. “Without that, there aren’t the votes to pass it. Every indication this is going to be a party-line vote and because of that to pass the Republican-controlled House, if you lose more than two Republican members, then it won’t pass so that means everyone has to be in agreement.” READ MORE