Sale of cheaper gasoline allowed all summer: Can you use it?

(NEXSTAR) — As it has in recent years, the Environmental Protection Agency announced Monday that it would allow the sale of E15 gasoline in the U.S. through the summer, which could have an impact on your next trip to the pumps. 

Typically, E15, which is sometimes called unleaded 88, could not be sold between May and mid-September. This was due to concerns that using it could increase smog during the summer months. 

Since 2022, however, the EPA has been issuing short-term waivers that allowed the sale of E15 through summer nationwide. Last year, the EPA expanded year-round sales to eight Midwestern states: Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

Monday’s announcement from the EPA is intended to give consumers more choices at the pump, including a lower-cost option, while increasing demand for corn, according to the Trump administration. 

Is E15 cheaper? 

Yes, E15, or unleaded 88, is typically more affordable. This is because it has less gasoline content, which is replaced by corn-based ethanol, Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, told Nexstar. 

That means it is generally five to 10 cents cheaper per gallon than regular unleaded gasoline.

In Green Bay, for example, GasBuddy listings showed unleaded 88 for anywhere between one and 14 cents cheaper than regular gasoline across the stations with the lowest prices as of Tuesday afternoon.

Are there environmental concerns for E15?

While the EPA previously prohibited the sale of E15 during the summer over smog concerns, De Haan said studies have shown that ethanol generally burns cleaner than gasoline.

Environmentalists, however, have said that higher corn production could lead to higher use of fertilizers that are a leading source of water pollution. 

Zack Pistora, Kansas lobbyist for the Sierra Club, said ethanol plants also use high amounts of water, and states like Kansas are worried about the depletion of aquifers. He said it's “hypocritical” to portray ethanol as environmentally friendly and said the Trump administration should promote renewable energy, electric vehicles, public transportation and sustainable agriculture.

Is E15 safe for my vehicle? 

This varies based on what you drive. The EPA has approved E15 for vehicles that are 2001 models and newer, De Haan explained, though not all manufacturers have adopted the parts needed to accommodate ethanol fuels. 

Smaller engines, like those in motorcycles and boats, also typically cannot accommodate fuel with higher ethanol concentrations, De Haan noted. The Energy Department also lists off-road vehicles, vehicles older than model year 2001, those with heavy-duty engines, and engines in equipment like lawn mowers and chainsaws as prohibited from using E15.

De Haan recommends consulting your manufacturer before fueling up with E15. 

Where can I find E15?

Because the EPA’s announcement is not a mandate, you may not find E15 at every gas station you visit, De Haan said. It may be easier to find the fuel in the Midwest, “where a lot of ethanol is produced.”

GasBuddy does allow you to search for gas stations near you selling unleaded 88. De Haan estimated E15 would be found at roughly 10 percent of stations in the U.S. 

“It’s generally, not necessarily commonplace just yet,” he added. 

The Renewable Fuels Association, a trade group for ethanol producers, hopes that will change, calling on Congress to approve legislation allowing year-round E15 sales across the U.S.

“For the economic and energy security benefits of E15 to be fully realized, the marketplace needs long-term certainty,” President and CEO Geoff Cooper said Monday. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.