On the Dash:
- EPA waiver allows nationwide E15 sales for 20 days starting May 1 to help ease fuel costs.
- U.S. gas prices average just over $3.98 per gallon, up more than $1 in a month.
- Policy shift may lower prices by several cents per gallon and expand ethanol use.
The Trump administration on Wednesday announced a temporary suspension of federal anti-smog regulations on seasonal gasoline blends, aiming to combat rising fuel prices following the start of the war involving Iran.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said the waiver will take effect for 20 days beginning May 1 and may be extended if needed. This decision allows retailers to sell gasoline blends containing 15% ethanol, known as E15, which are typically restricted during warmer months.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the agency anticipates potential disruptions to the U.S. fuel supply, prompting the decision to ease restrictions.
The waiver suspends seasonal low-volatility requirements and lifts blending limitations, enabling nationwide sales of E15 and removing federal barriers to selling E10, gasoline blended with 10% ethanol, which is already widely available year-round.
Analysts said the change could reduce retail gasoline prices by several cents per gallon. The U.S. average price for regular gasoline is just over $3.98 per gallon, up more than $1 from a month ago, according to AAA data.
The Renewable Fuels Association supported the move, saying expanded E15 availability would help lower costs for drivers while benefiting ethanol producers and rural economies. The American Petroleum Institute also backed the decision, citing improved access to affordable and reliable energy.
Global oil prices have risen since the conflict disrupted shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for roughly one-fifth of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas supply.
The White House has taken additional steps to address market pressures, including releasing crude oil from U.S. emergency reserves and easing sanctions on Russia and Iran to increase global supply.
