The Renewable Fuels Association welcomed the passage late Monday night of Calif. SB 795, the E15 Clean-Up Act, which removes the final impediments that are preventing Californians from accessing the lower-cost, lower-carbon E15 fuel blend at the pump. The bill passed unanimously out of both the Assembly (56–0) and the Senate (34–0).
“The passage of this bill means Californians will finally be able to enjoy savings at the pump with a lower-cost fuel blend that’s also better for the environment,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “We thank principal authors Sens. Bob Archuletta and Suzette Martinez Valladares, and Assemblymember David Alvarez, as well as the entire bipartisan California Problem Solvers Caucus for their leadership and commitment to reducing gas prices for California families. We are also grateful to Gov. Gavin Newsom for his ongoing strong support of E15.”
The bill, prepared in the wake of last year’s unanimously supported legislation permitting E15 sales, allows retailers to use existing vapor recovery equipment to dispense E15 if the manufacturer of that equipment submits a statement of compatibility to the relevant state agencies.
The California Environmental Policy Council voted unanimously on Aug. 18 to approve the E15 multimedia analysis—the final step in the regulatory process to formally approve E15. CARB is expected to approve its E15 regulation at its Sept. 24 meeting.
A 2024 study by economists at UC Berkeley and the U.S. Naval Academy found that E15 could save California drivers up to $2.7 billion at the pump annually, and a new report from the U.S. Department of Energy shows drivers with access to E15 in other parts of the country are recently saving $0.47 per gallon on average.
The Renewable Fuels Association continues its work in educating California fuel retailers and others about implementing E15 sales, with a set of workshops coming to San Diego Sept. 9 in conjunction with the CFCA Summit.