House lawmakers passed a measure to allow year-round sale of ethanol blend, known as E15, giving a boost to farmers sought for months by corn-state lawmakers. The House voted 218-203 to pass the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, which would allow the sale of gasoline blended with 15% ethanol year‑round nationwide. The bill would also revise the Renewable Fuel Standard, a federal policy that mandates that gasoline and other transportation fuels contain minimum amounts of fuel from renewable resources. Cheers broke out on the House floor, with Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) clapping and whistling, when the legislation secured enough votes to pass.
E15 is gasoline blended with 10.5% to 15% ethanol. It is restricted from sale during the summer because of the concern that it can create smog. But the Trump administration has been pursuing year-round E15 fuel sales to help reduce gas prices. The higher-blend fuel is typically cheaper than E10 gasoline.
The bill split Republican leadership, with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) voting no, whereas Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) and Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-MI) voted yes. The bill passed with the support of 122 Republicans and 95 Democrats.
