Industry leaders and elected officials push for a law that would allow the year-round sale of higher blends of ethanol across the country. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch )
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird and attorneys general from 15 other states, including South Carolina, have penned a letter to members of Congress, urging them to support legislation that would allow the year-round sale of an ethanol-blended fuel.
The letter, and commodity groups in Iowa, said the expansion of the ethanol market would help farmers and liquid fuel producers, and lower the cost at the pump for American consumers.
The current Clean Air Act allows the sale of 10% ethanol blended fuels, but ag and liquid fuel industry leaders are pushing for wider acceptance of a 15% blend known as E15, sometimes seen at the pump as Unleaded 88.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency allows for the sale of E15 for lightweight vehicles made after 2001, but restricts the sale during the summer months. EPA, however, has granted waivers in the past to allow for summer sale of E15, and some Midwestern states, including Iowa, will have access to year-round E15 beginning April 28.
The letter calls on Congress to pass the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025 to amend the Clean Air Act to allow 15% ethanol blends. The bill has been supported by ethanol and petroleum industries.
Addressed to U.S. House leaders Mike Johnson and Hakeem Jeffries and Senate leaders John Thune and Chuck Schumer, the letter also pointed to executive orders declaring a national energy emergency and establishing a national energy dominance council as a reminder of the executive branch’s support for the issue.
“President Trump has already taken bold action to support year-round E15 and unleash American energy greatness—a stark contrast to the Biden EPA,” Bird said in a press release about the letter. “Now, we’re calling on Congress to follow President Trump’s lead and grant permanent, nationwide access to E15 gasoline.”
Iowa Corn Growers Association President Stu Swanson thanked Bird for her “long-time” advocacy and support of the issue.
“Passage of year-round E15 will provide consumers access to a cleaner burning, cheaper option at the pump, while putting dollars back in the pockets of American farmers through increased corn demand,” Swanson said in a press release. “Iowa corn farmers are ready to provide homegrown, more affordable energy solutions to all Americans.”
The National Corn Growers Association also submitted a letter on behalf of nearly 9,000 corn growers from across the country, urging congressional leaders to pass the legislation amending the Clean Air Act.
According to the association, year-round availability of E15 would result in increased corn demand of about 2.3 billion bushels per year and “provide an opportunity to curb the weakening farm economy.”
“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 necessary economic security to rural communities,” the letter on behalf of corn growers read.
The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association also pushed for the legislation at its annual conference in February, with attendees signing a letter addressed to Thune and Johnson.
IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw said the AGs’ letter shows the “widespread support” of the higher ethanol blend across the country.
“Consumers in all 50 states deserve to save 15 to 20 cents a gallon with E15,” Shaw said in a statement. “Corn farmers deserve a growing market during these difficult times. And we can accomplish those things without requiring oil refiners to comply on a state-by-state basis. But that takes action from Congress.”
Shaw said Congress “must” put year-round E15 in the upcoming continuing resolution, the budget lawmakers must pass by March 14 to avoid a partial government shutdown.
“Let’s see this over the finish line,” Shaw said.
Attorneys general from Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, and West Virginia signed on the letter.