Efforts to make E15 vehicle fuel available nationwide year-round have hit a legislative roadblock in Washington, D.C. While the higher ethanol blend has been available in Iowa through temporary presidential waivers, advocates say a permanent solution is necessary to ensure long-term stability for the industry.
United States Senator Chuck Grassley, a Republican from New Hartford, speaking with Jeff Stein on the Iowa Business Report podcast, says the lack of a permanent law creates a significant hurdle for retailers who are hesitant to invest in the expensive infrastructure required to sell the fuel.
“E15 will never get the investment by most retailers until they know it’s law instead of year to year, because the investment in the pumps for E15 is very costly.”
The debate over E15 comes as Iowa retailers face a looming 2026 state deadline to offer the blend at their stations. Grassley tells the Iowa Business Report that a recent attempt to secure a permanent fix in an appropriations bill was derailed by opposition from small refineries.
“We thought we had it all worked out in the United States Congress to put it in the appropriation bill for year-round nationwide E15. And then the small refineries weighed in with several senators, and that put an end to it.”
Despite the setback, Grassley says there is still hope for a resolution soon. Lawmakers are now looking toward a promised vote by March 1st to provide the regulatory certainty that farm states like Iowa have been seeking for years.
