E30 Demonstration

In late 2022 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved the continuation of ground-breaking research being done in Nebraska on the long-term adaptability and feasibility of E30 fuel—a blend of 30% ethanol and 70% gasoline—by using E30 in non-flex fuel state fleet vehicles. Under current EPA guidelines, only flex fuel vehicles (FFVs) can use ethanol blends higher than E15. This marked the beginning of Phase II of the Nebraska Ethanol Board's E30 Demonstration.

Phase I occurred in 2019. Fifty State of Nebraska non-flex fuel vehicles operating on E30 fuel were outfitted with onboard tracking systems to capture data on vehicle performance. Those vehicles were monitored for an entire year while data was regularly submitted to researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) for analysis. Results showed that E30 is safe and reliable fuel for use in conventional vehicles. This peer-reviewed research was the first scientific demonstration of its kind and was published in the academic journal Fuel. A summary report is available here, and the press release from then-Gov. Ricketts announcing the results is available here.

Phase II, which is ongoing, marks a large-scale expansion of Phase I, with more than 800 State of Nebraska fleet vehicles, and intends to underscore the initial findings in order to support regulatory change to make E30 accessible to all drivers. While further demonstrating the safety and reliability of E30, the state is also significantly reducing its fuel costs and adding value to Nebraska ethanol and agriculture producers through the program. The NEB plans to work with industry partners and the EPA to continue Phase II of the E30 demonstration for at least two years.

Providing greater access to higher blends of ethanol allows consumers to manage fluctuating gas prices and contributes to our environmental health. One of the key findings from the first phase of the E30 demonstration is the positive impact of allowing statewide E30 consumption. If only 10% of the 1.7 million registered non FFVS in Nebraska used E30 instead of E10, ethanol consumption would increase by 18.5 million gallons per year and carbon emissions would decrease by 64,000 tons per year.

Phase II Progress Update as of February 2025

• 520,000 gallons of E30 have been purchased by the State of Nebraska Transportation Services Bureau and Department of Transportation for use in the state fleet of vehicles.
• Nearly 100,000 more gallons of ethanol have been blended into the state fleet fuel supply than otherwise would have been.
• The demonstration has added more than $340,000 in value to Nebraska ethanol producers through the higher volume of ethanol consumption.
• The demonstration has saved the State of Nebraska over $260,000 in fuel costs thanks to a steady and significant price spread from fuel retailers between E10 and E30—more than 43 cents per gallon on average.