E15 Advocates See Hopes Dashed in Continuing Resolution

WASHINGTON — Corn growers and other advocates for the year-round sale of E15 fuel rallied on Capitol Hill last week, but walked away empty-handed when a provision they’ve long championed was not included in the continuing resolution passed in the House.

This is the second time in four months that the House has opted not to include bipartisan legislation in a continuing resolution that would allow the year-round sale of E15, a vehicle fuel refined with 85% unleaded gasoline and 15% ethanol.

For years the Environmental Protection Agency has banned its sale from June to September under the Clean Air Act because it evaporates more quickly than other fuels, raising air pollution concerns.

But advocates for the fuel blend contend the EPA’s concerns are “outdated” and now represent little more than an unneeded regulatory barrier that is doing more harm than good.

Last Tuesday, ahead of the House vote on the stopgap spending bill, farmers and several of their supporters on the Hill held a press conference calling for the bill, the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025, to be rolled into the CR.

“Eliminating barriers to high ethanol blends would be good for farmers and the economy,” said Kenneth Hartman Jr., president of the National Corn Growers Association. 

“That’s especially true as we face uncertainty in our foreign markets, and increasing demand for corn domestically would be a much-needed boost for farmers and rural communities,” he said.

In addition to their press conference, the E15 advocates presented a letter signed by 9,000 farmers and their supporters calling for House and Senate leaders to take action on the issue.

In the end, those efforts were for naught.

“We are very disappointed that extended access to E15 was not included in the continuing resolution,” Hartman said.

“We appreciate the work of our allies in Congress who champion corn growers and our priorities and call on Congress to address this issue as soon as possible,” he added.

Dan can be reached at [email protected] and @DanMcCue