National Survey: Americans Strongly Support Year-Round Access to E15

(Renewable Fuels Association) New polling conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of the Renewable Fuels Association shows strong support for legislation allowing year-round access to E15, a lower-cost fuel blend containing 15 percent ethanol. The survey of nearly 2,000 registered voters also showed a record level of support for the Renewable Fuel Standard.

Voter support for increasing availability of the E15 blend is at its highest level—72 percent—since RFA began quarterly polling in 2016. Two-thirds of respondents back the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, legislation to allow the nationwide year-round sale of the blend, while just 12 percent say they oppose the legislation and 21 percent had no opinion.

Roughly one-quarter of survey respondents say they have had the opportunity to purchase E15; and of those respondents, 62 percent said they purchased the fuel. Yet, slightly more than half of those surveyed have not had an opportunity to buy lower-cost E15, and another 23 percent were unsure if they have had that opportunity.

Voter support for the Renewable Fuel Standard policy is at 69 percent, the highest ever since RFA began quarterly polling.

“These survey results show that Americans want more options at the pump, and more consumers are recognizing that access to ethanol blends like E15 means greater energy independence and real savings every time they fuel up their vehicles,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “Ethanol plays a key role in the Trump administration’s America First energy strategy, and these new polling results show that voters are starting to connect the dots. Voters are clearly looking to Congress and the administration to remove the barriers that prevent lower-cost fuels like E15 from accessing the marketplace.”

The survey also shows continued support for the use of E85 flex fuel, with 68 percent of respondents backing the promotion and sale of flex fuel vehicles that can use either that blend or regular unleaded gasoline. Fifty-eight percent said they are very or somewhat interested in buying an FFV, compared to only 39 percent for electric vehicles.

Finally, the survey asked about consumer attitudes on the importance of energy independence. Eighty-eight percent of respondents believe it is important for America to be energy independent, and 79 percent are very or somewhat concerned about gas price fluctuations. Nearly three-quarters (74 percent) believe renewable fuels like ethanol are important to energy independence and that is very or somewhat important for their fuel to be made in America. Almost two-thirds (65 percent) oppose banning vehicles with liquid-fuel engines.

The survey was conducted online Sept. 10–12, among a sample of 1,825 U.S. registered voters. Data were weighted to approximate a target sample based on age, race/ethnicity, gender, educational attainment, 2024 presidential vote, and region. Results have a 2% margin of error. READ MORE

Excerpt from National Corn Growers Association: Highlighting the downturn in the farm economy, the president of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and leaders from 17 state corn grower groups sent an open letter to Democratic and Republican Congressional leaders today, calling on them to pass legislation, yet this year, that would extend nationwide, consumer access to fuels with 15% ethanol blends as a way to begin to address the economic decline.

“The most durable way to help farmers through these troubling times is by creating more demand for corn and corn products,” the letter said. “The most immediate path to begin to address this issue is by increasing consumer access to higher blends of corn ethanol.”

The letter, which was sent to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), comes as corn growers across the country have been dealt a very difficult hand with input costs near record highs as corn prices fall to unsustainable lows.

To make matters worse for growers, a recent report released by the Department of Agriculture suggests that farmers are on course to produce a massive corn yield that is expected to be the largest on record, an outgrowth of exceptionally efficient and continually improving management practices. But additional corn on the market will only drive prices even lower.

Corn grower leaders have said one of the quickest ways to create demand for corn is by passing the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025, which would remove an outdated regulation under the Clean Air Act that bans the sale of fuel with 15% ethanol blends during the summer months.

“Ethanol sales are the lifeblood of corn growers and play an important role in the lives of millions of Americans,” the letter noted. “Higher blends of ethanol in gasoline can save consumers money at the gas pump reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prevent an over-dependence on foreign oil.”

Growers have fought for years to eliminate the summer ban, coming close only to be thwarted as deals on legislation have been made. Language was included in the 2024 year-end continuing resolution, but was removed at the eleventh hour during intricate negotiations.

Corn growers are visiting Capitol Hill this week to convey to members of Congress the importance of this legislation and the need to act as soon as possible. Read the Letter READ MORE

Excerpt from Brownfield Ag News: A U.S. Senator says efforts to secure permanent, year-round sales of E15 before the end of the year could face an uphill battle.

Iowa Republican Joni Ernst tells Brownfield, “We do get some resistance still from some of the democratic members that are on the Eastern Seaboard.”

She says there has been some bipartisan support for a federal solution, but, “We’ve got to fight through their resistance, make sure the president and his team are on-board, and then we can maybe move ahead with E15 year-round. We continue pushing that issue very hard. It is always a topic of conversation whenever I’m discussing with the president.”

Ernst says lawmakers continue to look for the right legislative vehicle to attach year-round nationwide E15 language. READ MORE