Trump and Rollins double down on support for E15
In the wake of the surprising and disappointing failure of Congress to pass legislation allowing year-round 15% ethanol in automotive gasoline, President Donald Trump and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins have doubled down on their support for E15.
In a Jan. 28 speech to farmers in Iowa, Trump said, “I promised E15 year-round if I got elected. I want to let you know we’ll start right now.” Trump said he is trusting House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune to broker a deal in Congress.
“We’ve got it for farmers, consumers and refiners, including small and midsize refiners,” Trump said. “In other words, to get E15 approved, and they’re working on it, they’re very close to getting it done. I just wanted to let you know that.”
Trump’s strong reassurance came a day after Rollins posted a statement stressing her support for E15. “Yet again President Trump is honoring his commitment to America’s farmers and energy producers today in Iowa by announcing his support for the nationwide year-round sale of E15. As Congress continues to work through the details, the president has been clear—get a bill that allows nationwide E15 to his desk, and he will sign it to unleash American homegrown row crops for biofuel use like never before. America’s national security depends on our energy security, and biofuels are a crucial asset that brings more jobs and helps farmers in rural America. This action will allow up to 2 billion more bushels of corn to be consumed domestically.”
Farmers’ groups and ag organizations had reacted furiously as a measure to allow year-round E15 was sidelined in the House of Representatives on Jan. 22. Congress had been considering the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act as part of the pending funding package, which would have allowed year-round, unrestricted sales of E15 nationwide. The measure is s top priority for the biofuels industry, especially in the wake of January’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report showing record corn yields for 2025. E15 would soak up surplus corn and ease downward price pressure.
Instead, House leadership voted to set up a new “E15 Rural Energy Council” to “develop legislative solutions to address the crisis facing our nation’s farmers and refiners.’”
Reactions came swiftly. Geoff Cooper, executive director of the Renewable Fuels Association, said, “We are extremely disappointed that Congress appears to have failed again in adopting a simple technical fix that would have made lower-cost, American-made E15 available to consumers nationwide all year long. Allowing year-round E15 would have provided a lifeline to farmers who are facing the worst economic crisis in almost 50 years, while also helping American families struggling with higher energy bills.”
The American Coalition for Ethanol’s CEO, Brian Jennings, issued the following statement, “We expect Congress to adopt bipartisan legislation to finally allow retailers the option to offer E15 to their customers on a year-round basis before the summer driving season. Any new legislative package considered by Congress must expand, not limit, market access for ethanol.
“As rural America copes with some of the toughest economic conditions in a generation, Congress must meet the moment and finally make E15 year-round a reality. It is a commonsense solution that can immediately boost demand for corn, strengthen farm income, and save motorists money at the pump.”
Jed Bower, Ohio farmer and president of the National Corn Growers Association, said, “Corn growers are disgusted, disappointed and disillusioned that after spending years of calling for passage of E15, Congress has again punted, and it has done so in a spectacularly weak and offensive way. Bizarrely, members of Congress are now planning to establish a rural energy council to explore this legislation as if we are in the beginning stages of discussing E15. We already have a bill. We already have an agreement with the petroleum industry after months of negotiation. But instead of acting, Congress is now suggesting a process-ridden task force that kicks the can down the road once again. Congress is choosing to leave America’s 500,000 corn farmers behind in favor of a handful of refineries.”
Cooper added, “While this is not the outcome we were pushing for, we are grateful to the many House members and Senators who fought to advance the year-round E15 bill this week. We will continue to join them in pushing harder than ever to secure this badly needed legislation for rural America as soon as possible.”
The message seems to have gotten through lud and clear to the White House. Rollins’ post concluded, “The Trump administration has proven it is the most pro-biofuels administration in our nation’s history, sending a clear market signal there is a growing need for American grown commodities for fuel use. With support for nationwide year-round E-15, the highest Renewable Volume Obligation proposal in our nation’s history, and extending the 45Z biofuel tax credit through 2029 in the One Big Beautiful Bill, the Trump administration is unleashing new domestic and international markets for our farmers and ranchers like never before. We are just getting started.”
David Murray can be reached at [email protected].
