Senate negotiators are expected to add language authorizing year-round nationwide sales of E15 gasoline to an updated farm bill draft, marking a shift from an earlier proposal that omitted the measure despite strong support from corn growers and the ethanol industry.
The revised text would include the long-sought provision as lawmakers continue negotiations on a new five-year farm bill. Supporters have argued that permanent approval of E15, a gasoline blend containing 15% ethanol, would provide certainty for fuel retailers, boost corn demand and eliminate the need for annual emergency waivers from the Environmental Protection Agency.
The House passed standalone legislation authorizing year-round E15 sales in May, but the proposal has stalled in the Senate, where supporters have sought to attach it to broader legislation. Refining interests have opposed the measure, citing concerns over compliance costs and fuel distribution requirements, according to Reuters.
The inclusion of E15 in the Senate farm bill could improve the measure’s prospects by pairing it with broader agricultural priorities, though the legislation still faces negotiations before reaching the Senate floor. Congress must act before current farm bill authorities expire later this year.
