Letter
Re: Pass a Year-Round E15 Legislative Solution as Soon as Possible
Dear Majority Leader Thune, Minority Leader Schumer, Speaker Johnson, and Minority Leader Jeffries:
On behalf of America’s farmers and their renewable fuel producing partners, we urge Congress to pass a legislative solution that allows for the sale of year-round E15 as soon as possible. This bipartisan, commonsense bill would permanently allow the sale of E15 – a 15 percent ethanol blend – nationwide, year-round, boosting farm income and lowering the price drivers pay at the pump.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture projects a record 16.8-billion-bushel corn harvest in 2025 – up roughly 13 percent from 2024. While this demonstrates the strength and productivity of America’s farmers, it also intensifies pressure on corn prices and farm incomes. Without new markets, too many bushels will be chasing too few buyers, threatening to deepen the financial strain in rural communities.
Expanding E15 access is one of the most immediate and practical ways to address this imbalance. When fully scaled, year-round, nationwide E15 is poised to create new domestic demand for billions of bushels of corn and sorghum, help stabilize markets, support farmers, and deliver consumer savings at the pump.
A recent study found that nationwide, year-round E15 sales would:
- Add up to $25.8 billion to U.S. GDP;
- Generate up to $10.3 billion in household income; and
- Support more than 128,000 new full-time jobs across the economy.
Out of the total GDP increase, approximately $7.3 billion would come directly from expanded ethanol production, and $13.8 billion from increased corn demand – a powerful, measurable boost for America’s farm and energy sectors.
Additionally, the benefit to the consumer cannot be understated. E15 typically sells for 10 to 30 cents less per gallon than standard gasoline, and more than 95 percent of vehicles on the road today are approved to use the fuel. With fuel prices fluctuating and household budgets under pressure, nationwide access to E15 offers drivers a reliable, lower-cost choice at the pump.
In recent years, E15 availability during the summer driving season has depended on temporary emergency waivers. While these annual actions provide short-term relief, they are not a sustainable or reliable solution. Year-to-year uncertainty discourages investment in fuel infrastructure, confuses consumers, and undermines confidence among retailers and refiners.
With record corn and sorghum crops filling bins across America, farmers cannot afford another season of uncertainty and negative margins. Markets need consistency and predictability, which requires permanent legislative action by Congress.
We respectfully urge you to act quickly to pass year-round E15 legislation. Doing so will:
- Ensure the record corn and sorghum crop finds a stable domestic market.
- Provide consistent access to lower-priced E15 for consumers nationwide.
- Provide predictability for retailers during the summer driving season.
- Strengthen America’s energy security while reducing emissions; and
- Remove an outdated regulatory barrier and deliver meaningful economic growth across rural America.
Thank you for your leadership and continued support for America’s farmers, biofuel producers, and consumers.
Sincerely,
Renewable Fuels Association
Growth Energy
National Corn Growers Association
American Farm Bureau Federation
Renew Kansas Biofuels Association
Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association
New York Corn & Soybean Growers Association
Ohio Corn & Wheat Growers Association
Renewable Fuels Nebraska
North Dakota Corn Growers Association
American Coalition for Ethanol
Iowa Renewable Fuels Association
North Dakota Farmers Union
Tennessee Corn Growers Association
Nebraska Ethanol Board
Virginia Grain Producers Association
Michigan Corn Growers Association
Missouri Corn Growers Association
South Dakota Ethanol Producers Association
Indiana Corn Growers Association
Virginia Farm Bureau
Kansas Farm Bureau
National Sorghum Producers
Ohio Farm Bureau
Missouri Farm Bureau
Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation
Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation
Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation
Delaware Farm Bureau
Indiana Farm Bureau
Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation
Iowa Farm Bureau
Michigan Farm Bureau
Illinois Farm Bureau
Utah Farm Bureau Federation
South Dakota Farm Bureau
Minnesota Farmers Union
South Dakota Corn Growers Association
Minnesota Corn Growers Association
Pennsylvania Farm Bureau
Nebraska Corn Growers Association
Texas Farm Bureau
Maryland Farm Bureau
Wisconsin Corn Growers Association
Kentucky Corn Growers Association
Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation
Idaho Farm Bureau Federation
Wisconsin BioFuels Association
Rhode Island Farm Bureau Federation
Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation
Colorado Farm Bureau
Alabama Farmers Federation
Illinois Corn Growers Association
Illinois Renewable Fuels Association
Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation
Iowa Corn Growers Association
Georgia Corn Growers Association
Kansas Corn Growers Association
North Dakota Farm Bureau
Texas Corn Producers Association
New Mexico Farm & Livestock Bureau
New York Farm Bureau
Montana Farm Bureau Federation
Connecticut Farm Bureau Association
North Carolina Farm Bureau
Alabama Soybean & Corn Association
National Farmers Union
National Association of State Departments of Agriculture
Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation
California Farm Bureau
Georgia Farm Bureau
Oregon Farm Bureau
Arkansas Farm Bureau
C.C.
The Honorable Shelley Moore Capito
Chair, Committee on Environment and Public Works
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Sheldon Whitehouse
Ranking Member, Committee on Environment and Public Works
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Brett Guthrie
Chair, Committee on Energy and Commerce
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Frank Pallone
Ranking Member, Committee on Energy and Commerce
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
