Senate Hearing Addresses E15 Legislation, 45Z Guidance

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June 12, 2026

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(Ethanol Producer Magazine) U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins reiterated support for E15 and confirmed that release of USDA feedstock guidance related to the 45Z clean fuel production credit is imminent during a June 10 hearing held by the Senate Agriculture Committee.

During the hearing, Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., emphasized that E15 is one of his top priorities. He also stressed the benefits the 45Z credit will bring the farm community when finalized. “We need to get this across the finish line,” he said.

The biofuel industry is currently awaiting a final 45Z rule from the Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Department of Treasury, along with final 45Z feedstock guidance from the USDA and the release an updated 45Z GREET model from the U.S. Department of Energy.

Rollins said there are obviously multiple hands in the “proverbial rule pot” when it comes to 45Z but stressed “it is a top priority for me personally and certainly my partners around the cabinet.”

According to Rollins, release of the USDA’s rule is “imminent” and “forthcoming.” She, however, declined to provide an exact date for release, instead saying the guidance “is coming hopefully very quickly.”

“It is really, really important—the regenerative side of that, the MAHA side—there is just so many wins for so many of our Americans in that," Rollins added.

Marshall also addressed value-added agriculture, noting that value-added ag is where farmers make money. Ethanol, biodiesel and renewable diesel are just some of the products that can be described as value-added ag.

Rollins agreed and discussed a recent meeting she attended with ethanol buyers in England. “So many of these countries, whether we agree with them or not, have put themselves into a certain category of reaching certain numbers on carbon, etc.” she said, It is our famers in America that will be—I believe—the most benefited from those rules around the world.”

Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., discussed current efforts in the Senate to get E15 passed. She said there is solid agreement in the Senate Agriculture Committee that the legislation should be approved. “If this doesn’t get done, the only explanation I have is that the oil and gas community has such sway over members of congress on the republication side and others, maybe in the environmental side, have so much sway over democrats that we can’t do a rational policy on E15,” she said, calling for increased engagement from Rollins and the USDA to move an 15 bill forward.

“We keep hitting a logjam for a rational policy,” Slotkin added. “I want to get this done, I think if we do not get it done this year, it’s not getting done, and I want you to help own that here, because we need some help.”

In response, Rollins confirmed she is “100% onboard” with efforts to pass E15 legislation.

Sen. Grassley, R-Iowa, also questioned Rollins on the administration’s support for E15. In response, she confirmed President Donald Trump supports E15 and said that she believes E15 will boost the economy, provide cheaper fuel options, and bolster U.S. security. “There is no national security without farm security,” Rollins said.

A full replay of the hearing is available on the Senate Agriculture Committee website READ MORE

Related articles

Growth Energy CEO cites momentum for year-round E15 (S&P Global Energy/Ethanol Producer Magazine)
Push for high-ethanol fuel hangs by a thread in the Senate -- Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa said the chance to make E15 fuel available year-round may slip away for good without a near-term strategy. (E&E News)
Stalled E15 legislation frustrating farmers (Brownfield Ag News; includes AUDIO)
Uncertainty hangs around E15: National Corn Growers Association says passage of nationwide, year-round E15 remains a top priority. (Brownfield Ag News)
Year-round E15 legislation is still in trouble (Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network)
Boozman sees ‘stars aligned’ on E15, momentum on farmer aid (Agri-Pulse)
Congress debates selling gas with 15 percent ethanol year-round permanently. Would it help Wisconsin farmers? (Wisconsin Public Radio)

Excerpt from S&P Global Energy/Ethanol Producer Magazine: The US ethanol sector believes the push for year-round E15 access has substantial momentum after years of policy fights, Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy, said in an interview.

Skor spoke with Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, June 3 during the 42nd Annual Fuel Ethanol Workshop in St. Louis, Missouri, where she delivered the keynote address.

Skor highlighted recent victories for the ethanol industry, including the passage of a year-round E15 bill through the House of Representatives, and expressed optimism for the sector's continued growth.

“There’s been lots of vocal support for E15, and now that the bill has passed the House, the focus is on forging consensus amongst Congress on what is the best legislative vehicle to get this across the finish line.”

The House passed on May 13 the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, which would formally legalize year-round E15 sales nationwide, pending a Senate vote.

Skor added that one option is to reattach year-round E15 to a larger bill such as the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, which also passed the House in May.

“As both bills successfully passed the House vote and there’s been added momentum, there will be pressure on the Senate if a year-round E15 provision were to be re-added to the Farm Bill,” Skor said.

When asked about when a Senate vote could be expected, Skor said that it’s difficult to confidently project a timeline at the moment.

At the state level, California legalized year-round E15 sales in October 2025 through Assembly Bill 30. Despite the sale of higher-ethanol gasoline becoming legal months ago, statewide retail availability and implementation have stalled as gasoline nozzles in California require a vapor recovery system that is currently not certified for E15 by state agencies.

“We are currently in conversations with the California Fire Marshall to get through this last hurdle … I expect the rollout of E15 availability at retail stations in California to begin in 2027,” Skor said. READ MORE

Excerpt from Brownfield Ag News: Casey Kelleher, president of the Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board and Jefferson County farmer, says passing legislation to expand availability of higher blends of ethanol out of the House was a good step, but…

“I haven’t heard a whole lot from the Senate lately.”

Shane Goplin, who serves as vice president of the Promotion Board and farms in Trempealeau County, tells Brownfield the legislation is an opportunity to boost domestic corn markets at a critical time for the farm sector.

“We’ll be having July Corn Congress in DC, and I will be part of the delegation going out there to hopefully get some meetings with people that maybe have more questions on what E15 will do for not only the producer but the consumer as well,” he says.

AUDIO: Shane Goplin – Wisconsin farmer

Kelleher, who also serves on Asian action team with the U.S. Grains and Bioproducts Council, says the world’s top ethanol producer is falling behind.

“Vietnam, Philippines, Japan’s got plans of going to E20 and some of these other countries over there are going to E30 and we’re going to supply the majority of it.” He says, “It’s kind of hard to try to push it when we can’t do it ourselves here.”

In addition to boosting corn demand, both farmers say access to higher blends of ethanol brings down prices at the pump for consumers and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

AUDIO: Casey Kelleher – Wisconsin farmer READ MORE

From the Office of Senator Chuck Grassley: