By Jamie Martin
Across the country, farmers face high production costs, market uncertainty, and global competition. Policy decisions now play a major role in shaping the economic future of rural communities. Biofuels remain one of the strongest demand drivers for U.S. agriculture, and year-round E15 sales present a major opportunity to support both the energy sector and corn producers.
Ethanol has become a dependable market for U.S. corn for more than two decades. It currently uses about 5.6 billion bushels of corn each year and helps strengthen America’s fuel supply. Many states already benefit from higher ethanol blends like E15, but outdated federal rules restrict E15 sales during the summer. These seasonal limits have slowed investment in new fuel pumps and prevented consistent growth in the market.
Although temporary EPA waivers allow summer E15 sales, they must be renewed every year, creating uncertainty for retailers and consumers. This comes at a time when overall gasoline use is expected to decline due to more efficient vehicles and increased electric-vehicle adoption. Without stronger blend levels, ethanol demand could gradually fall in the coming decade.
Making E15 available nationwide throughout the year offers a practical solution. Increasing the average ethanol blend rate by even 1% would add more than 1.3 billion gallons of new ethanol demand. A shift from E10 to E15 could create demand for about 2.4 billion additional bushels of corn annually. Legislation such as the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025 aims to provide this long-term certainty.
Consumers also benefit from E15. It is generally 10 to 30 cents cheaper per gallon than regular gasoline and provides higher octane for improved engine performance. Ethanol blends also burn cleaner, reducing harmful tailpipe emissions. Other major ethanol-using countries already require higher blends, showing the global shift toward cleaner fuels.
A national move to year-round E15 would help stabilize corn markets, lower fuel prices, support rural jobs, and strengthen America’s energy independence. It offers one of the clearest pathways to maintaining strong ethanol demand in the future.
Photo Credit : shutterstock-dickgage
Categories: National