The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) mandates certain levels of ethanol in America’s transportation fuel supply. Two decades after the RFS became law, the ethanol lobby continues to aggressively push to expand this flawed mandate despite repeated evidence that blending levels are not achievable and that increased blending raises fuel costs for families.
Now, there’s a renewed push to expand ethanol mandates, threatening thousands of jobs and America’s refining capacity.
State of Play:
- Midwestern lawmakers are urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set an aggressive ethanol mandate above 15 billion gallons per year—an unprecedented and unattainable level that would strain refineries and spike consumer gas prices.
- As expected, America’s biggest oil companies and biofuel producers teamed up to meet with the EPA to push for higher, costlier ethanol mandates as the agency evaluates RFS blending mandates for the next 2-3 years.
- If EPA were to adopt their approach, it would cripple mid-size independent refiners, pushing them to the brink of bankruptcy, threatening to eliminate tens of thousands of refinery jobs, and sending gas prices soaring.
Deep Dive:
In Congress, ethanol allies have been relentless and will continue pursuing legislative avenues to manipulate the market and force higher ethanol mandates under the guise of allowing year-round E15 sales:
- December 17, 2024: Year-round E15 was added for consideration to the end-of-year government funding package.
- December 19, 2024: Two days later, year-round E15 was removed from the end-of-year spending bill.
- February 13, 2025: Lawmakers reintroduced a bill to expand year-round E15 sales.
- October 19, 2022: Midwestern members of Congress sent a letter pushing the EPA to impose an ethanol mandate exceeding 15 billion gallons—a record-breaking, unrealistic target.
- April 10, 2025: A coalition of Midwestern governors urged the EPA to set RVO levels exceeding 15 billion gallons for 2026.
Why it Matters:
On day one, President Trump laid out a clear vision to restore American energy security, protect American workers, and lower energy costs. Higher mandates under the broken RFS undermine his American energy agenda because they have triggered:
- Independent refinery closures, diminishing America’s refining capacity.
- Massive layoffs and job losses, including tens of thousands of high-quality jobs.
- Higher gas prices, costing consumers 20–30 cents more per gallon.
Despite these consequences, America’s ethanol lobby is doubling down on expanding E15 and ethanol mandates.
Action is needed to protect independent refiners and safeguard U.S. refining capacity.
