The waiver takes effect in May
The Trump administration will temporarily suspend federal summer gasoline regulations starting May 1 in an effort to lower fuel prices that have climbed near $4 a gallon. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced Wednesday that refiners and retailers can sell E15 gasoline, blended with 15 percent ethanol, throughout the summer months. Restrictions on E10 gasoline, which contains 10 percent ethanol, will also be lifted. The waivers will remain in place through May 20, though the EPA said it will monitor fuel supplies and extend them "as long as the fuel supply circumstances warrant such action."
Normally, federal rules require a switch to costlier summer blends from June 1 through September 15 because gasoline with higher ethanol content evaporates more easily in heat and contributes to air pollution. Zeldin said the emergency action will "provide American families with relief by increasing fuel supply and consumer choice."
Why prices are climbing
Gas prices have surged following the outbreak of war in Iran, which has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz and cut off global oil supplies. The Trump administration has pursued multiple strategies to boost supply and ease prices, including ordering the release of 173 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, waiving the Jones Act to allow foreign ships to move fuel between U.S. ports, and lifting Russian oil sanctions.
The Trump administration also ordered the release of 173 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve as one measure to tame prices, according to CBS News.
Savings at the pump versus environmental costs
Drivers typically save 10 to 40 cents per gallon when filling up with E15, according to the Renewable Fuels Association. The ethanol industry, which has lobbied aggressively for year-round E15 sales, welcomed the move. Geoff Cooper, the association's president and CEO, said the administration acted "quickly and decisively to combat potential fuel shortages and help keep a lid on gas prices this summer."
However, environmental and economic experts raised concerns about the trade-offs. Kenneth Gillingham, a professor at the Yale School of the Environment, said E15 is not available in all states and some places lack the necessary infrastructure or sufficient ethanol supply to ramp up use. He also warned that higher ethanol levels can damage older cars, boats and all-terrain vehicles.
Jason Hill, a professor at the University of Minnesota, noted that using more corn for ethanol means less is available for animal feed, potentially shifting costs from the pump to the grocery store. "I think it's difficult to see when the ledger's settled, how this is a benefit for U.S. consumers," Hill said. Kenneth Gillingham, a professor at the Yale School of the Environment, warned that the move could lead to ozone issues in the summer, potentially causing health problems, as stated in PBS NewsHour.
Bipartisan precedent and industry positions
The summer E15 waiver has become routine in recent years, with both Republicans and Democrats calling for it to become permanent. Democratic Rep. Sharice Davids of Kansas has requested and received emergency waivers for E15 for several years under administrations of both parties. This week, Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota urged the Trump administration to take this "no-cost, immediate step" to curb rising fuel costs.
The American Petroleum Institute, which has generally opposed biofuel expansion, supported this move. Vice President Will Hupman stated that it "helps ensure American consumers continue to have access to affordable, reliable energy." U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins framed the action as part of "unleashing American Energy Dominance" while signaling support to domestic biofuel producers.
The sources also report that the International Energy Agency, an intergovernmental organization, called on governments, businesses, and consumers to reduce energy consumption by driving less and taking other steps.