WASHINGTON — Corn growers in Missouri and across the Midwest are pushing for victory in a decades-long fight for year-round sales of E15, a biofuel that is a mixture of gasoline and up to 15% ethanol.
Year-round legalization of E15 could mean up to an additional 2.4 billion bushels of American corn being used for ethanol production — a 50% increase over the 2024-25 production year, when 5.4 billion bushels went to produce ethanol, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. And, as oil prices spike in the midst of Middle East hostilities, ethanol proponents argue that using more of the biofuel will make gasoline cheaper for Americans while using surplus corn.
Selling E15 is restricted during the summer months in part because of air pollution concerns and because of resistance from oil refineries. Still, following an endorsement from President Donald Trump, proponents of E15 are now confident they are close to a deal on legislation to allow for year-round sales.
“We do have a very good framework for this bill that the petroleum companies are going to be good with, our medium and small refiners are going to be good with, and certainly the corn producers are going to be good with,” said U.S. Rep. Mark Alford, R-Mo.
Previously, the Environmental Protection Agency tried to change the regulations on E15 summer sales but courts struck down the change during the first Trump administration, said Darrick Steen, policy director for the Missouri Corn Growers Association.
Although Trump has been a supporter of ramping up fossil fuel production in the country — “Drill, baby Drill,” is a favorite mantra — he recently signaled support for an increased use of ethanol.
In January, Trump endorsed continuing production of biofuels in the United States and backed down on penalizing their import.
During a speech earlier this year in Des Moines, Iowa, he said that he would quickly sign a bill that allows for year-round E15. “I will sign it without delay. Okay,” Trump said.
Corn grower trade associations hoped that a provision allowing for year-round E15 sales would be tacked on to a must-pass government funding bill in January and were disappointed when it wasn’t. Instead, Congress established the Rural Domestic Energy Council to prepare a recommendation.
House Resolution 375 directed the council “to investigate topics including, but not limited to, the sale of Ethanol-15, U.S. refinery capacity, the Renewable Fuel Standard Program, Renewable Identification Numbers, access to markets, and federal regulations that hinder American energy dominance.”
However, the council did not meet its March 1 deadline for releasing a report that would outline recommendations for year-round sales of E15.
“We are going to miss that goal,” Alford acknowledged in a news conference days before a report was expected to be released.
The council was aiming to present a bill to the House floor by Feb. 26, which would allow for the fuel to be sold all throughout the year. However, Alford is convinced there’s now enough support to enact such a measure.
“It’s very important to especially the middle part of America, the corn-producing states, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri,” said Alford, who the Missouri Corn Growers have praised for backing their cause. “We have finally convinced the Speaker (Mike Johnson, R-La.) that this needs to get on the floor. The Senate agrees as well.”
Alford said the council has been meeting weekly, in person when in Washington and over Zoom when members are their respective home states. Alford expects the recommendations to be issued soon.
To win approval in the House, where Republicans hold just a four-vote majority, any deal must appeal to corn growers, refineries and members of both parties.
Democrats have spoken out about their lack of representation on the Rural Domestic Energy Council. Rep. Nikki Budzinski, D-Ill., sent a letter in January with fellow Democrats requesting inclusion. Despite the lack of Democrats on the task force, Rep. Wesley Bell, D-Mo., signaled support for E15 initiatives, saying he has voted for them in the past.
“We don’t have a lot of rural, but we have a lot of ag transportation that comes through our district,” said Bell, who represents St. Louis. “I think energy costs are something important for us as well.” Bell said he cosponsored a bill last year to deregulate E15.
While the EPA restricts E15 for year-round sales, it has allowed for the continuous sale of E10, a similar biofuel with less corn-based ethanol.
The Clean Air Act prevents the sale of E15 because of its high summer “volatility,” referring to its high vapor pressure, which the act defines as a higher smog creator.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy website, every state sells E10, and it makes up most of the gasoline sold today.
The Missouri Corn Growers Association has been a staunch supporter of E15 initiatives and explicitly praised Alford last month for his support of the fuel.
“We are grateful to the members of Congress who fought with us, especially Congressman Mark Alford, and to every grower who spoke up on this issue,” the Missouri Corn Growers Association said in a news release after the E15 provision they wanted did not get tacked onto the funding bill.
The main hurdle for supporters of more E15 sales has been balancing demands of the oil industry with those of the agriculture sector. In the past, the EPA has decided yearly which refineries receive small refinery exemptions from certain regulations. Steen said that became a political tool, with different administrations taking different approaches.
Because of this, the proposed new E15 legislation has been written to codify the definitions of small, medium and large refineries into law, Steen said.
Currently, the EPA can provide emergency waivers for year-round sales of E15, which has been done in the recent past, but the agency wasn’t able to make the change permanent by regulation.
“When the court struck down EPA’s original rule allowing it, the only way to ensure that E15 could continue through the summer months, without legislation, was for an emergency waiver to be granted by EPA which they have the authority to do,” Steen said.
This leaves many wanting the stability of fully legalized year-round sales.