Trump Admin Keeps Cheaper E15 Gas Flowing Amid Enviornmental Warnings

Consumers across the U.S. will still be able to buy higher-ethanol blend E15 gasoline this summer, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Monday, providing some relief at the pump but raising concerns about environmental impacts.

The emergency waiver issued by the EPA prevents retailers in most states from halting E15 sales after May 1. Although the current waiver expires on May 20, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin indicated he plans to continue issuing waivers throughout the summer until Sept. 15, when federal rules normally allow E15 sales nationwide.

Most gasoline sold in the U.S. contains 10 percent ethanol (E10), but E15 blends — which typically cost about 10 cents less per gallon — are growing in popularity, especially in Midwestern states that dominate U.S. corn production. Traditionally, E15 sales were restricted during summer months due to concerns that the fuel could worsen smog during peak driving season. However, the EPA has relaxed these rules since 2022 with a series of temporary waivers, and last year issued a rule allowing year-round E15 sales in eight Midwestern states: Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

Trump administration officials framed Monday’s move as a win for consumers, energy independence, and American farmers.

“Our nation’s great corn growers are critical to helping the U.S. achieve energy independence, which is essential to national security,” Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said in a statement.

The ethanol industry and Midwest politicians praised the EPA’s decision. However, the Renewable Fuels Association, a leading trade group, called for permanent legislative action.

“For the economic and energy security benefits of E15 to be fully realized, the marketplace needs long-term certainty,” said Geoff Cooper, the association’s President and CEO.

Supporters argue that ethanol benefits farmers, cuts fuel prices and reduces greenhouse gas emissions compared to pure gasoline. Yet environmentalists warn that ethanol’s growing footprint poses risks. Roughly 40 percent of the U.S. corn crop now goes toward ethanol production, raising concerns over fertilizer use that contributes to water pollution.

Zack Pistora, the Kansas lobbyist for the Sierra Club, criticized the policy shift, noting that ethanol plants consume vast amounts of water, exacerbating concerns about aquifer depletion in states like Kansas. Calling it “hypocritical” to label ethanol environmentally friendly, Pistora urged the Trump administration to prioritize sustainable alternatives.

“We need to dramatically reduce our fossil fuel dependence, but relying on corn-based ethanol doesn’t put our country on the path it needs,” Pistora said in a recent interview.

Reporting by the Associated Press contributed to this story.