Selling of E15 Year Round Approved
AG Release
Lincoln -- Attorney General Mike Hilgers announces success in Nebraska’s lawsuit against the Biden Administration’s EPA, securing the freedom to sell E15 gasoline during summer months. The year-round sale of E15 will provide Nebraskans a cheaper, cleaner option at the gas pump.
In April 2022, a bipartisan coalition of governors petitioned the EPA for a rule allowing their States to sell E15 gasoline year-round. Despite the Clean Air Act’s requiring the EPA to issue that rule within 90 days, the agency remained silent for over a year before issuing a response.
In August 2023, Nebraska Attorney General Hilgers and Iowa Attorney General Bird filed a lawsuit against the EPA. The lawsuit challenged the EPA’s inaction and sought to enforce the Clean Air Act’s requirement to allow states like Nebraska to sell E15 fuel year-round. E15 was already sold during the fall, winter, and spring months. This win ensures year-round E15 not only in Nebraska and Iowa but also in Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
“Allowing year-round sale of E15 will reduce the cost of gasoline for consumers and avoid supply shortages. This will also benefit Nebraska’s corn farmers, ensuring they have another stable and consistent outlet for their product,” stated AG Hilgers.
The rule will allow for the sale of E15 gasoline beginning in the 2025 summer driving season.
Smith Reaction
Washington, D.C. – Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE), a co-chair of the Congressional Biofuels Caucus, released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its rule allowing year-round sale of E-15 in eight states beginning in 2025:
"Although year-round sale of E-15 is welcome news for midwestern consumers looking for more options and price relief at the pump, it remains clear that we need a permanent solution to allow the year-round sale of E-15 nationwide. Farmers, ethanol and petroleum producers, retailers, and consumers need long-term certainty which the U.S. Supreme Court has said can only come through legislation, and I will continue to work to codify uninterrupted, nationwide E-15 through the bipartisan Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act and urge President Biden to fully support this commonsense policy."
Ricketts Reaction
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE), a longtime champion of Nebraska biofuels, released the following statement in response to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final rule approving a request from Midwest governors to allow the year-round sale of gasoline with higher blends of ethanol in 2025:
“Today’s announcement is a welcome step toward year-round availability of E-15. Higher blend ethanol saves consumers money at the pump, it makes us more energy independent, and it creates good-paying jobs right here in Nebraska. The next step is for Congress to pass legislation allowing for the permanent sale of E-15 nationwide.”
Pillen Reaction
LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen expressed excitement on behalf of Nebraska motorists, upon news that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved the year-round sale of E-15. The EPA’s final rule is effective April 28, 2025 and applies to eight states, including Nebraska.
“This decision is a win for agriculture, ethanol production and for Nebraska consumers,” said Gov. Pillen. “Ethanol is a vital part of our economy. We will continue to ensure consumers have a low-cost option at the pump. Today’s actions will result in real savings for Nebraska drivers while producing fewer carbon emissions.”
