EPA Issues Emergency Fuel Waiver to Expand Gasoline Supply and Lower Pump Prices
Starting September 1, an EPA emergency fuel waiver ends the summer-blend gasoline rule early, adding hundreds of thousands of barrels per day to supply and aiming to cut pump prices.
- hundreds of thousands of barrels per day
- E10 (10% ethanol)
- 20 days
- September 1, 2026
What Happened
The EPA, in consultation with the DOE and under the Clean Air Act, issued a temporary emergency fuel waiver that takes effect September 1, 2026. It allows E10 gasoline - blended with 10 percent ethanol - to be sold at a higher Reid Vapor Pressure, effectively ending the summer-blend gasoline requirement early. The agency expects this to increase domestic gasoline supply by hundreds of thousands of barrels per day and lower prices at the pump. As required by the CAA, EPA and DOE evaluated the situation and determined the waiver is in the public interest. The notice was issued in advance so industry can transition fuel distribution systems.
hundreds of thousandsbarrels per day
From ending the summer-blend requirement early.
EPA's emergency fuel waivers first took effect, removing fuel restrictions across the country.
New waiver begins, allowing E10 at higher RVP and ending summer-blend requirement early.
Waiver ends with the summer control season; EPA may extend it if needed.
“President Trump has prioritized ensuring American families have affordable gasoline and energy. Throughout this administration, EPA has taken decisive action like issuing RVP waivers to provide relief at the pump and fortify our gasoline supply chain. Today, we continue this work with our federal partners to increase supply and lower gas prices for all Americans. Across the administration, we will”
“Increasing the supply of gasoline means lower prices for American families. Today’s action is another example of this Administration using every available tool to cut red tape, increase the supply of gasoline, and lower prices at the pump. Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, we are advancing commonsense policies that prioritize energy addition and put the American people first.”
The waiver also suspends state-level controls in Texas, Arizona, and California that extend beyond September 15, 2026, for up to 20 days. EPA says it will monitor gasoline supplies in those states and stands ready to extend the waiver if necessary. The agency remains committed to lowering fuel costs for American families, farmers, and manufacturers, reducing reliance on imported fuels, and strengthening U.S. energy independence. States that followed EPA's lead in waiving requirements have seen lower gas prices, while New York and California, which did not adopt the standards, face higher prices for residents.
- Lower gas prices
- Higher prices for residents
Why this matters
Gasoline prices are especially sensitive to supply, and summer-blend fuel is costlier to produce. By allowing E10 at a higher RVP and lifting the summer-blend requirement early, EPA expects more gasoline on the market, which should reduce pump prices for American families, farmers, and manufacturers. The waiver also suspends some state-level controls in Texas, Arizona, and California for up to 20 days, with possible extensions.
Terms in This Story
- Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP)
- A measure of a fuel's evaporation tendency; higher values are allowed in winter fuel, lower in summer fuel to reduce smog.
- E10
- Gasoline that contains 10% ethanol.
- summer-blend gasoline
- A special gasoline formulation used in warm months to reduce evaporative emissions.
- Clean Air Act
- The U.S. federal law that sets emissions standards for vehicles, fuels, and other sources of air pollution.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.