Senate Agriculture Committee Adds Year-Round E15 Approval to Farm Bill

The United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry included provisions for the year-round, nationwide approval of E15 gasoline in its latest version of the farm bill. The measure seeks to eliminate the requirement for federal waivers during summertime sales, a move intended to bolster the farm economy and increase U.S. energy independence.

South Dakota's congressional delegation strongly supports the expansion. Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Senator Mike Rounds advocated for the measure to benefit rural communities, while Representative Dusty Johnson emphasized the importance of E15 for American energy dominance.

The Senate's move creates a legislative conflict with the House of Representatives, which previously removed E15 from its version of the farm bill in favor of standalone legislation to amend the Clean Air Act. Opponents of the year-round approval cite concerns regarding increased summer smog and the conversion of grasslands for corn production, while lawmakers from oil-producing states continue to resist the change.

The farm bill, which governs federal agriculture and nutrition policies, has been under extension since the previous version was signed in 2018.