California Legislature Passes Bill Improving Access to E15
The California legislature late Monday passed a bill that directs the state fire marshal’s office to implement regulations that give California drivers access to E15, a move that was lauded by ethanol industry groups.
Senate Bill 795 (SB 795) would allow fuel retailers to use existing vapor recovery systems to dispense E15, potentially clearing a remaining regulatory hurdle before the fuel can be sold statewide.
Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor called it “a great day for drivers in the Golden State.”
“Lawmakers have opened the door for them to access E15, which sells for less and burns cleaner than other fuel options,” she said.
“Last year, California lawmakers took action against high prices at the pump by unanimously approving AB 30, legalizing E15 in California. Since then, the state has worked through regulatory questions that have been addressed by SB 795.”
The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) also applauded the bill’s passage.
“It’s been truly amazing to see California work in a bipartisan manner to unanimously pass E15 legislation,” said Executive Director Monte Shaw. “And not just bipartisan, but unanimous. But it makes sense.
“California drivers can save billions with E15. It will reduce tailpipe and carbon emissions. It will add much needed physical gallons to a constrained market. And, while maybe not California’s motivation, E15 in the state represents 600 to 700 million gallons per year of ethanol market potential.”
IRFA said that it helped provide California with more than 10 years of “data and experience offering E15 through existing equipment.”
“We think Iowa played a small but important role in getting California across the finish line,” Shaw stated, as the group provided state officials “information, data and rule language drawing on Iowa’s decade-plus of experience successfully selling E15 through existing dispensers and fueling infrastructure.”
IRFA pledged to continue working with policymakers and renewable fuels stakeholders across the country to build on the momentum, expand markets for ethanol and support policies that strengthen demand for Iowa-produced renewable fuels.
The group lamented that the future of nationwide, year-round E15 remains clouded in Congress.
“It’s almost shocking to say, but the U.S. Congress could take a lesson from California on E15,” said Shaw. “California beat Congress to the E15 punch. All 50 states deserve the right to offer E15 for sale.”
The bill is now on its way to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk for signature.
SB 795, known as the E15 Clean-Up Act, was initially introduced as a workers’ compensation measure for professional athletes. However, it was gutted and amended Friday to allow retailers to use existing Stage II equipment to dispense gasoline containing E15 if the equipment manufacturer submits a compatibility statement to the appropriate state agencies.
Newsom signed AB 30 into law last October, authorizing the immediate sale of E15 in California, but existing equipment certification requirements have delayed the fuel’s availability at retail stations.
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) says state law requires certification of components that handle gasoline at dispensing facilities, with approvals from multiple state agencies required before CARB can certify E15-compatible equipment.
Under current requirements, equipment manufacturers must submit detailed test reports from laboratories approved by the Office of the State Fire Marshal to obtain certification for E15 use.
Ethanol industry groups have argued that the process duplicates testing already conducted by equipment manufacturers and could take as long as two years. The State Fire Marshal’s office has said it is working with equipment manufacturers and other state agencies to streamline the process while maintaining safety requirements.