Congress is considering legislation that would allow sales of gasoline that contains more ethanol as Washington grapples with rising gas prices that have upset many Americans in an election year.
The U.S. House approved a bill on Wednesday, May 13 that would allow year-round sales of E15 gas, which is gasoline blended with 15% ethanol. The measure, known as the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailers Choice Act, still needs to be approved by the U.S. Senate before it can be sent to President Donald Trump for his signature.
Supporters of the legislation like the National Corn Growers Association say “year-round E15 saves drivers money on every gallon of gasoline and drives demand for bushels of corn.”
The consideration of the measure comes as a temporary waiver that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency traditionally issues in the summer to allow more E-15 gas that was approved in March is set to expire on May 20.
It also comes as the average price of gas reached $4.51 on Wednesday, May 13, according to the AAA Auto Club. That’s up from a national average gas price of $2.98 on Feb. 28, the day the United States first launched military strikes against Iran.
The Trump administration and Republican leaders in Congress have been scrambling to contain the political fallout of the gas price jump. President Donald Trump has endorsed a proposal to temporarily suspend the 18-cent per gallon federal gas tax, and several lawmakers have introduced legislation to do exactly that.
What Is E15 Gas?
E15 is gasoline blended with 15% ethanol. Most finished motor gasoline sold in the United States is E10, and most of the E15 gas currently available in America is sold in the Midwest, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
The EPA said E15 is currently offered at more than 3,000 gas stations nationwide, where the agency said it serves as a “more affordable choice for Americans.”
EPA officials noted when they issued the May 1 waiver, “without this action, E15 gasoline cannot be used by roughly half of the country this summer.”
Environmental groups have criticized the idea of increasing the use of ethanol in gas in the past, saying it emits harmful pollutants just like regular gas.
How Much Does E15 Gas Cost?
The average price of E15 is not tracked as closely as the price of regular gas. A 2023 study by the Renewable Fuels Association showed drivers would save about 25 cents per gallon by using E15.
The study found that the last time nationwide gas prices neared $4 a gallon in 2022, E15 gas averaged $3.41 per gallon.
Can Using E15 Gas Damage My Car?
The EPA says E15 gas can be used in flexible-fuel vehicles and most cars made after 2001.
But the agency said E15 gas cannot be used in the following types of vehicles:
On-highway and nonroad motorcycles;
Vehicles with heavy-duty engines, such as school buses, transit buses and delivery trucks;
Nonroad vehicles, such as boats and snowmobiles;
Engines in nonroad equipment, such as lawnmowers and chain saws; or
Model year 2000 and older cars, light-duty trucks and medium-duty passenger vehicles.
Consumer Reports agrees with the EPA that E15 is safe for most modern cars, but advises drivers to “check your manual to see what type of fuel the manufacturer recommends” before switching to the cheaper option.
“If your car is a 2001 model or older you’ll probably find the recommendation is no more than 10 percent ethanol, which is the most common blend of regular gas in the U.S. One tank of E15 isn’t going to kill your car, but it will affect it over time,” Consumer Reports said.
This story originally appeared on USA TODAY.
