LINCOLN, NEBRASKA – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a temporary emergency fuel waiver that will allow the sale of E15 fuel nationwide during summer 2026. Amidst ongoing efforts to create a permanent federal legislative solution, the emergency waivers are needed to allow the continued sale of E15 in this summer.
“We welcome today’s announced emergency waiver,” said Nebraska Ethanol Board (NEB) Executive Director Ben Rhodes. “This action ensures that drivers around the country will have uninterrupted access to cleaner, cheaper E15 during the upcoming summer. This waiver comes at a time of fuel supply chain disruptions worldwide, and we thank EPA for taking appropriate action.”
E15, a blend of gasoline and 15% ethanol, has long been approved by the EPA for use in vehicles model year 2001 or newer and saves consumers $0.10 per gallon on average compared to E10. E15 is available at around 140 fueling stations in Nebraska, and each year, Nebraska drivers save at least $300 million by choosing ethanol blends.
“Issuing emergency waivers is the correct and necessary decision, but we remain committed to a permanent legislative resolution to this issue,” Rhodes said. “This is now the fifth consecutive summer requiring an emergency E15 waiver. The best path forward is a permanent Congressional action allowing E15 to be sold throughout the year, every year. We will continue to work tirelessly for that solution.”
The Nebraska Ethanol Board works to ensure strong public policy and consumer support for biofuels. Since 1971, the independent state agency has designed and managed programs to expand production, market access, worker safety and technology innovation, including recruitment of producers interested in developing conventional ethanol, as well as bio-products from the ethanol platform. For more information, visit www.ethanol.nebraska.gov.
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