WASHINGTON (EPA) – As part of President Biden’s commitment to providing Americans relief from market supply issues created by Putin’s unprovoked war in Ukraine, today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing an emergency fuel waiver to allow E15 gasoline—gasoline that uses a 15 percent ethanol blend—to be sold during the summer driving season. This action will increase fuel supply and provide consumers more choices at the pump. The waiver is a critical step to implement President Biden’s announcement that he is taking action to protect Americans from supply crises by reducing our reliance on fossil fuels, building real U.S. energy independence, supporting American agriculture and manufacturing, and accelerating the transition to clean energy.

“President Biden and this Administration are committed to protecting American consumers from the impacts of Russia’s unprovoked attack against Ukraine,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Putin’s war has had a profound impact on global and domestic energy markets. In consultation with Secretary Granholm, I have concluded that it is necessary to take action to allow E15 sales during the summer driving season in order to minimize and prevent disruption of summertime fuel supply to consumers.”

This action is being taken to counteract Russia’s unjustified, unprovoked, and unconscionable war against Ukraine and the profound impact on global and domestic energy markets. EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) have been actively monitoring market supply disruptions caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine.

EPA’s emergency fuel waiver will go into effect on May 1 when terminal operators would otherwise no longer be able to sell E15 in the effected regions of the country and will last for the statutory maximum of 20 days. EPA will continue to monitor the supply with industry and federal partners, and the Agency expects to issue new waivers effectively extending the emergency fuel waiver until such time as the extreme and unusual fuel supply circumstances due to the war in Ukraine are no longer present.

For more information on this announcement, please visit EPA’s Fuel Waivers webpage.