My Weekly Column: Delivering Year-Round E15 as Renewable Fuels Month Ends

May is Renewable Fuels Month – a time where we can recognize the Iowa farmers, producers, and innovators who power America with homegrown energy while strengthening our economy and national security.

Representing one of the largest biofuels producing districts in the nation, I have remained committed to supporting Iowa agriculture and delivering long-term certainty for Iowa farmers and working families. This month, I was glad to cosponsor the resolution designating May 2026 as Renewable Fuels Month, highlighting the critical role that biofuels play in lowering costs for families, supporting rural agriculture, and accelerating American energy independence. 

This resolution comes on the heels of a major victory for Iowa: passage of year-round, nationwide, E15 legislation in the House of Representatives. As the co-chair of the E15 Rural Domestic Energy Council, I worked alongside farmers, fuel retailers, refiners, and industry leaders to find a mutually beneficial solution and secure passage. 

For years, Iowa farmers and biofuel producers have been subjected to temporary waivers and regulatory uncertainty to allow E15 availability during the summer. This legislation passed by the House will finally make year-round E15 permanent nationwide, securing a permanent domestic market and lowering gas prices for producers and consumers alike. 

The benefits are clear.

Year-round E15 is projected to save drivers between 20 and 40 cents per gallon and can reduce annual fuel costs nationally by more than $20 billion. It would also increase domestic corn demand by an estimated 2.4 billion bushels annually, creating stronger markets for Iowa farmers and supporting rural economies across Iowa.

When I asked Iowans directly about the biggest E15 benefits, the response was overwhelmingly positive: from lower gas prices at the pump, expanded markets for farmers, to stronger American-made energy.

These priorities reflect exactly why renewable fuels matter.

In Iowa alone, renewable fuels contribute nearly $5.4 billion to our state’s GDP, supporting more than 31,000 jobs and generating more than $22 million in economic output annually. Iowa ethanol plants process roughly 57% of the state’s corn crop, helping transform Iowa agriculture into fuel, livestock feed, and valuable co-products that support economies around the globe. 

Despite market uncertainty and ongoing regulatory challenges, Iowa continues to lead the nation in renewable fuel production. The state’s 41 ethanol plants produced 4.6 billion gallons of ethanol in 2025 – nearly 28% of total U.S. production.

Renewable fuels are more than just an abstract policy debate in Washington. They are a backbone of rural America’s economy and a direct investment into the future of American energy dominance. 

I have made it my mission in Congress to be a strong voice for working families and farmers across Iowa, so that they aren’t forced to wait for Washington policy debates to catch up with innovation. By helping secure year-round E15 during Renewable Fuels Month, I am happy to continue championing policies that lower fuel costs, strengthen rural communities, expand markets for farmers, and reduce dependence on foreign oil.