Sioux Falls, SD – The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) submitted comments to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) calling for swift implementation guidance for E15 following CARB’s Oct. 14 Scoping Workshop on E15 Use in California. Current regulations don’t cover E15 specifications or regulatory enforcement, so ACE underscored the urgency of CARB categorizing E15 as a gasoline-grade fuel, given the recent authorization of E15 sales through the passage of AB 30 and 14 years of safe, real-world use nationwide.
“We urge CARB to move quickly with a clear statement that the sale of E15 is allowed in California, and provide guidance promptly, so California fuel marketers can begin offering the low-cost and clean fuel to consumers immediately,” stated Ron Lamberty, ACE CMO in written comments.
Lamberty emphasized that E15’s safety and compatibility are well established through EPA and DOE research and more than a decade of everyday use by millions of motorists.
“E15 is no longer a new, untested product. We now have 14 years of safe, real-world use in unmodified tanks, lines, and dispensers at thousands of retail stations,” Lamberty noted.
The organization urged CARB to classify E15 as a standard gasoline grade—consistent with federal treatment—to avoid unnecessary costs and consumer confusion.
“Treating E15 as an alternative fuel would increase the cost for retailers and confuse drivers, limiting its use and reducing the air-quality benefits for California,” Lamberty wrote.
ACE’s comments also highlighted that California’s fueling infrastructure is already largely compatible with E15. To help retailers verify compatibility, Lamberty pointed CARB to the Flex Check tool on the organization’s website flexfuelforward.com, which allows marketers to check whether existing tanks, lines, dispensers, and hanging hardware can handle E15.
“The short answer is there should be little or no cost for the majority of California’s fuel terminals and retailers,” Lamberty wrote.
Lamberty noted in ACE’s comments that E15 typically retails 5 to 15 cents below E10, helping reduce fuel costs for drivers. The organization also anticipates faster-than-average adoption of E15 in California, driven by strong blending economics, compatible infrastructure, and the state’s existing low-RVP base fuel.
ACE’s full comments can be accessed here.
