Congress is considering legislation that would allow the sale of gasoline containing more ethanol as Washington grapples with rising gas prices that have left many Americans reeling in an election year.
The U.S. House approved a bill on Wednesday, May 13 that would allow year-round sales of E15 gas, which is gasoline blended with 15% ethanol. The measure, known as the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailers Choice Act, still needs to be approved by the U.S. Senate before it can be sent to President Donald Trump for his signature.
Supporters of the legislation, such as the National Corn Growers Association, say that “year-round E15 saves drivers money on every gallon of gasoline and increases demand for bushels of corn.”
The measure envisions a temporary waiver that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency traditionally issues in the summer to allow more E-15 gas that was approved in March and is set to expire on May 20.
According to the AAA Auto Club, the average price of gas reached $4.51 on Wednesday, May 13. This is higher than the national average gas price of $2.98 on February 28, the day the United States first launched military strikes against Iran.
The Trump administration and Republican leaders in Congress are struggling to contain the political consequences of surging gas prices. President Donald Trump has backed a proposal to temporarily suspend the 18-cent-per-gallon federal gas tax, and several lawmakers have introduced legislation to do the same.
What is E15 gas?
E15 is gasoline mixed with 15% ethanol. According to the US Energy Information Administration, most finished motor gasoline sold in the United States is E10, and most of the E15 gas currently available in the US is sold in the Midwest.
The EPA said E15 is currently offered at more than 3,000 gas stations nationwide, where the agency said it serves as a “more affordable option for Americans.”
“Without this action, nearly half of the country could not use E15 gasoline this summer,” EPA officials said when issuing the waiver on May 1.
Environmental groups have in the past criticized the idea of expanding the use of ethanol in gas, saying it emits the same harmful pollutants as regular gas.
How much does E15 gas cost?
The average price of E15 is not tracked as closely as the price of regular gas. A 2023 study from the Renewable Fuels Association showed that drivers would save about 25 cents per gallon by using E15.
The study found that the last time gas prices nationwide were close to $4 per gallon in 2022, the average price of E15 gas was $3.41 per gallon.
Can using E15 gas damage my car?
The EPA says E15 gas can be used in flexible fuel vehicles and most cars made after 2001.
But the agency said E15 gas cannot be used in the following types of vehicles:
- On-highway and non-road motorcycles;
- Vehicles with heavy-duty engines, such as school buses, transit buses, and delivery trucks;
- non-road vehicles, such as boats and snowmobiles;
- Engines in non-road equipment, such as lawnmowers and chain saws; Or
- Model year 2000 and older cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty passenger vehicles.
Consumer Reports agrees with the EPA that E15 is safe for most modern cars, but advises drivers to “check your manual to see what type of fuel the manufacturer recommends” before switching to a cheaper alternative.
“If your car is a 2001 model or older, you’ll probably find that the recommendation is no more than 10 percent ethanol, which is the most common blend of regular gas in the US. A tank of E15 won’t kill your car, but it will affect it over time,” Consumer Reports states.
This story originally appeared on USA TODAY.