In Bid to Cut Prices, EPA Issues Waiver Ending ‘Summer’ Gasoline Early

(Inside EPA) As the Trump administration seeks ways to reduce high fuel prices, EPA is ending the summer gasoline season early, issuing a waiver to states that allows sale of more-polluting “winter” fuel starting Sept. 1, rather than Sept. 15, while also renewing an emergency waiver that allows sales of 15 percent ethanol fuel (E15) this summer. Gasoline sold in the summer must meet a lower Reid vapor pressure (RVP) than wintertime fuel, making the summer fuel less volatile and therefore cutting... READ MORE

Excerpt from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Emergency Fuel Waiver to Unleash Hundreds of Thousands of Gasoline Barrels Per Day -- Today (August 20, 2026), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin, in consultation with U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and in accordance with the Clean Air Act (CAA), issued a temporary emergency fuel waiver that will increase the nation's gasoline supply and help lower prices for American families.

Beginning on September 1, 2026, EPA’s waivers will allow the sale of E10, gasoline blended with 10 percent ethanol, at a higher Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP). This action will increase the domestic gasoline supply by hundreds of thousands of barrels per day by effectively ending the summer-blend gasoline requirement early. With the increase of domestic gasoline supply on the market, Americans can expect to see reduced gas prices. As required by the CAA, EPA and DOE evaluated the current situation and determined that granting the waiver was in the public interest.

“President Trump has prioritized ensuring American families have affordable gasoline and energy. Throughout this administration, EPA has taken decisive action like issuing RVP waivers to provide relief at the pump and fortify our gasoline supply chain,” said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. “Today, we continue this work with our federal partners to increase supply and lower gas prices for all Americans. Across the administration, we will continue to execute President Trump’s agenda and provide Americans with a prosperous and affordable nation.”

“Increasing the supply of gasoline means lower prices for American families,” said DOE Secretary Chris Wright. “Today’s action is another example of this Administration using every available tool to cut red tape, increase the supply of gasoline, and lower prices at the pump. Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, we are advancing commonsense policies that prioritize energy addition and put the American people first.”

EPA remains committed to securing a robust fuel supply and lowering costs for American families, farmers, and manufacturers by reducing reliance on imported fuels and strengthening U.S. energy independence through commonsense rulemaking. The agency is issuing today's waiver notice in advance to give industry adequate time to transition its fuel distribution systems.

Today’s actions will remain in place through the end of the summer control season on September 15, 2026. The action also waives state level controls in Texas, Arizona and California that extend beyond September 15, 2026, for the maximum period allowed of 20 days. As the EPA has done all summer, we will be monitoring gasoline supplies in those states and will be prepared to extend the waiver through a subsequent action as long as necessary to ensure adequate supplies of gasoline to consumers. 

Since May 1, 2026, EPA’s emergency fuel waivers have been in effect to remove fuel restrictions across the country. The agency’s action has lowered gas prices in the states that have followed EPA’s suit and waived their requirements. In stark contrast, blue-state politicians in New York and California have not adopted these standards, driving up prices for their own residents. The agency will be ready to extend the emergency fuel waivers as long as the fuel supply circumstances warrant such action.

Excerpt from Energy.AgWired.com: Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper praised the action. “With no end in sight to higher fuel prices, the Trump administration has made the right move to increase the volume of E10 and E15 available to American drivers in the weeks ahead,” said Cooper. “When it comes to E15, we continue our call for federal legislation to make summer waivers of an obsolete regulation unnecessary by allowing the lower-carbon fuel to be permanently available during the summer months. E15 has been proven to reduce vehicular smog-forming emissions compared to both E10 and ethanol-free gasoline—and should therefore be more widely available.”

The action also waives state level controls in Texas, Arizona and California that extend beyond September 15. “As the EPA has done all summer, we will be monitoring gasoline supplies in those states and will be prepared to extend the waiver through a subsequent action as long as necessary to ensure adequate supplies of gasoline to consumers.” 

EPA’s emergency fuel waivers have been in effect since May to remove fuel restrictions across the country, as they have for the past several years, to allow the sale of E15 fuel without interruption since Congress has been unable to pass legislation providing a permanent fix for the outdated restriction. READ MORE

Excerpt from Ethanol Producer Magazine: Growth Energy is also applauding the waivers. "Today's announcement aligns with this EPA's track record of giving retailers the certainty they need to keep E15 on the market all year long," said Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy. "Now we need Congress to follow suit by passing legislation to permanently allow year-round E15 every year. Retailers, farmers, and drivers shouldn't have to rely on EPA to provide separate waivers each year in order to have access to this more affordable fuel option. We applaud EPA for taking this initiative, and hope Congress does the same when it returns from recess by getting year-round E15 to the president's desk." READ MORE