Year-round availability of E15 fuel remains a top priority for both the ethanol industry and corn farmers. While we’ve spoken with ethanol groups in the past about how vital it is for domestic biofuel production, it’s just as important to the grain markets that supply these fuels. In the case of ethanol, that means corn. Ensuring uninterrupted access to E15 nationwide helps drive consistent demand and price stability for one of America’s most widely grown crops.
Matt Ziegler, Director of Public Policy for Renewable Fuels at the National Corn Growers Association, says it’s a positive step that President Trump approved an emergency summer waiver for E15. The temporary fix allows for uninterrupted sales through the busy summer driving season. Ziegler says while it’s good news in the short term, farmers and fuel retailers still need a permanent solution.
Ziegler points to President Trump’s continued commitment to expanding markets for American agricultural products. He says ethanol production plays a key role in that effort by creating a reliable outlet for corn and other grains. According to Ziegler, it’s one of the most effective ways to move more ag products into the marketplace while supporting rural economies.
Ziegler says Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) remain a waiting game that has stretched across two administrations. The Biden administration failed to finalize the rules before leaving office, leaving a major gap in certainty for the biofuels industry. Now, the Trump administration has inherited the issue and is working through the process as new leadership settles in.
As the conversation around E15 and RVOs continues, advocates stress that this isn’t just about supporting the ethanol industry—it’s about standing up for America’s corn producers. Farmers need stable, long-term demand to maintain profitability and plan for the future. A permanent solution for year-round E15 and timely RVO decisions are critical pieces of that puzzle.
