EPA Administrator Announces Emergency Summer E15 Waiver to Lower Gas Prices, Extends Approval Every 20 Days

The Environmental Protection Agency has issued a temporary emergency waiver allowing the nationwide sale of E15 gasoline—a fuel blend containing 15% ethanol—during warmer months when it is typically not permitted, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced.

The waiver, which took effect starting this month, aims to provide drivers with a less expensive fuel option. Zeldin said consumers could see savings of “about 10 to 15 cents” per gallon, while also adding more domestic supply to the market.

“We believe inside of the administration that you should be able to buy the vehicle you want,” Zeldin said, noting that for drivers whose vehicles can utilize different gasoline formulations, “you have the choice to choose what type of gasoline you want.”

The administrator explained that the waiver is temporary and requires renewal every 20 days. “Every 20 days, I have to sign on to a letter to extend it for another 20 days,” Zeldin said. “Actually just signed off on the next 20 days extension. That is just something that will continue to have to do over the course of the summer.”

Zeldin noted that the agency is also suspending federal enforcement on certain boutique fuel markets in various states, but said some states—including California, New York, Maryland, and Virginia—have not yet signed on to allow the access for their residents.

The E15 blend is intended for use in light-duty conventional vehicles from model year 2001 and newer. Zeldin urged drivers to check their manufacturer’s instructions to determine which gasoline is acceptable for their specific engine.

When asked about the broader balance between environmental protection and economic growth, Zeldin pointed to recent actions where the EPA has increased regulations, including water quality standards across more than 30 miles of the Delaware River Basin and in the “nation’s air quality space.”

“We want to strike the balance,” Zeldin said. “We strongly believe that we don’t have to choose between the two.”

He also highlighted that the EPA recently added microplastics to its contaminant candidate list for the first time, along with pharmaceuticals and 75 PFAS chemicals. “Especially for the first time, microplastics has ever been added as a contaminant to the contaminant candidate list,” he said.

On emissions, Zeldin said the agency continues to enforce regulations under the Clean Air Act. “We have seen dramatic decreases in the emissions of these different categories that are named inside of the Clean Air Act,” he said, crediting private sector innovation and noting that new vehicles, school buses, and construction equipment are now better for the environment than they were 20 years ago.