Congress has a chance to give consumers year-round access to fuel that’s already roughly 25 cents per gallon cheaper than what’s in the pump beside it. The legislation matters for farmers and consumers alike — two groups feeling the same economic squeeze.
As president of National Farmers Union, I've spent years listening to farm families across America describe the same impossible math: farm input costs are high, margins are thin and uncertainty shapes every decision. They aren’t alone. Rising energy prices are squeezing household budgets nationwide, leaving families with fewer options and less flexibility. One of the simplest ways to provide relief for both is already within reach.
Year-round, nationwide access to E15, a gasoline blend with 15% ethanol, would give consumers a lower-cost fuel option almost immediately. When allowed during summer months under temporary waivers, E15 has consistently been priced about 25 cents per gallon below standard fuel. New data show that drivers are set to save more than $150 million this summer alone. That kind of discount matters for a parent commuting to work, a contractor driving between job sites, or a retiree on a fixed income. E15 is approved by the Environmental Protection Agency for use in 96% of the cars and trucks on the road today.
The benefits extend beyond the pump. Lower fuel costs reduce transportation expenses, which can ease pressure on food prices and other essentials. In an economy where energy touches nearly every sector, even modest savings can ripple widely.
So why isn’t E15 available year-round? It’s not opposition. The coalition of farmers, consumers, fuel retailers and energy producers only continues to grow, and past Congresses have come close to getting this done. What keeps stalling it is inertia.
That inertia has a cost. For family farmers who have been waiting for year-round, nationwide E15 for years, patience is not unlimited. Families grappling with high fuel costs have little control over the price they pay at the pump and few options to reduce it.
There’s also a broader question about competition. The U.S. fuel market offers consumers fewer choices than it should, and family farmers have fewer paths to markets than they need. Year-round E15 helps on both counts — adding a lower-cost option at the pump and a steady domestic outlet for American crops.
For farmers, the case goes deeper. E15 represents a scalable, durable domestic market for American crops — one that isn't subject to trade disputes or fluctuations in export volumes. The infrastructure exists, production capacity is in place, and farmers are ready to meet demand.
The continued delay carries real costs. Temporary waivers create uncertainty for fuel retailers and limit long-term investment. Farmers are left waiting for a market expansion that has been discussed for years but never fully realized. Consumers, meanwhile, are denied a straightforward way to save money.
Congress doesn’t need to invent a new solution. It needs to remove the barriers to one that already works.
Year-round E15 won’t solve every challenge facing the energy or agricultural economy. But it’s a practical, bipartisan step that would increase competition, support domestic production and deliver tangible savings to American families.
Family farmers and American consumers have waited long enough. Congress needs to finally deliver.
Rob Larew is president of the National Farmers Union.
