CARB adopts gasoline rule changes to support E15 fuel sales in California
California's air regulator has adopted amendments to the state's gasoline rules to support E15, a fuel blended with up to 15% ethanol that is already legal in all 50 states.
- Up to 15% (E15)
- Up to 10% (E10)
- 50
- 36
What Happened
The California Air Resources Board adopted amendments to the state's gasoline regulations to support the availability and use of E15 fuel in California. The board voted on Thursday. The move is meant to expand consumer fuel choices and follows Governor Newsom's direction to prioritize the rulemaking. According to CARB, the decision provides further certainty to fuel producers and providers interested in selling E15 in California.
- Up to 10% ethanol, the current standard at stations today
- Up to 15% ethanol (E15), a low-carbon alternative fuel
- Legal in 50 states and available in 36 states
Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 30, allowing E15 to be sold in California while CARB finalized the rules adopted now.
Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 795 (Archuleta) to accelerate the approval process for E15 dispenser components while maintaining public health protections.
CARB adopted amendments to the state's gasoline regulations to support the availability and use of E15.
- E15 was the subject of a detailed scientific evaluation to ensure its use will not result in adverse impacts to public health or the environment.
- The assessment found E15's impacts to be comparable to E10, with a potential for slight improvement in air quality.
- The evaluation determined that the primary health and environmental concerns associated with the gasoline blend come from the petroleum portion of the fuel.
E15 will continue to be authorized for sale in California at gas stations. State law requires dispensers to be clearly labeled, and consumers should consult their owner's manual to determine whether the fuel is compatible with their vehicle. Availability of E15 helps increase the number of choices consumers have at the pump and could help reduce gas prices. Ultimately, fuel providers set the price of gasoline and decide which fuels to sell.
Why this matters
Drivers in California could gain a new option at the pump beyond the E10 blend sold at stations today. The decision gives fuel producers and providers more certainty about selling E15 in the state, while consumers are advised to check their owner's manual before using it. CARB says the fuel was put through a scientific evaluation of its health and environmental effects.
Terms in This Story
- E15
- A vehicle fuel blend of gasoline and up to 15% ethanol, marketed as a lower-carbon option at the pump.
- Ethanol
- An alcohol-based fuel typically made from plant crops and blended into gasoline to reduce its carbon content.
- CARB
- The California Air Resources Board, the state agency that writes and enforces California's air quality and vehicle fuel regulations.
- Dispenser
- The pump and nozzle equipment at a gas station that delivers fuel into a vehicle's tank.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.