Trump seeks lower prices with E15 gas sales. How much could you save?

President Donald Trump is pushing Congress to pass legislation that would allow sales of higher-ethanol gasoline as U.S. lawmakers grapple with rising gas prices that have upset many Americans in an election year.

In an updated 2026 budget request sent to Congress on June 24, the White House requested a new law that would codify "the permanent, year-round sale" of E15 gas, which is gasoline blended with 15% ethanol. Doing so, the White House said, would amount to "an urgent and needed policy change that would expand consumer choice, support domestic fuel production, and provide additional flexibility in fuel markets."

The U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill on May 13 that would allow year-round sales of E15 gas. The measure, known as the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailers Choice Act, still needs to be approved by the U.S. Senate before it can be sent to Trump for his signature.

Supporters of the E15 gas, like the National Corn Growers Association, say "year-round E15 saves drivers money on every gallon of gasoline and drives demand for bushels of corn."

The consideration of extending sales of E15 gas comes as temporary waivers that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency traditionally issues in the summer to allow more E15 gas are set to soon expire.

It also comes as the average price of gas fell to $3.83 on Thursday, July 2, according to the AAA Auto Club. That's down from a national average gas price of $4.29 one month ago on June 2, but it's still up from the median price of $2.98 on Feb. 28, the day the United States first launched military strikes against Iran.

What is E15 gas?

E15 is gasoline blended with 15% ethanol. Most of the finished motor gasoline sold in the United States is E10, and most of the E15 gas that is currently available in America is sold in the Midwest, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The EPA said E15 is currently offered at more than 3,000 gas stations nationwide, where the agency said it serves as a "more affordable choice for Americans."

EPA officials noted when they issued the May 1 waiver, "without this action, E15 gasoline cannot be used by roughly half of the country this summer."

Environmental groups have criticized the idea of increasing the use of ethanol in gas in the past, saying it emits harmful pollutants just like regular gas.

How much would drivers save with more E15 gas?

The average price of E15 is not tracked as closely as the price of regular gas. A 2023 study conducted by the Renewable Fuels Association showed drivers would save about 25 cents per gallon if they used E15 gas.

The study found that the last time nationwide gas prices neared $4 a gallon in 2022, E15 gas averaged $3.41 per gallon.

Can using E15 gas damage my car?

The EPA said E15 gas can be used in flexible-fuel vehicles and most cars made after 2001.

But the agency said E15 gas cannot be used in the following types of vehicles:

• On-highway and nonroad motorcycles.
• Vehicles with heavy-duty engines, such as school buses, transit buses, and delivery trucks.
• Nonroad vehicles, such as boats and snowmobiles.
• Engines in nonroad equipment, such as lawnmowers and chain saws.
• Model year 2000 and older cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty passenger vehicles.

Consumer Reports said in a post on its website that it agrees with the EPA that E15 gas is safe for most modern cars, but the group says drivers should "check your manual to see what type of fuel the manufacturer recommends" before they turn to the cheaper options.

"If your car is a 2001 model or older you'll probably find the recommendation is no more than 10 percent ethanol, which is the most common blend of regular gas in the U.S. One tank of E15 isn't going to kill your car, but it will affect it over time," Consumer Reports said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump seeks lower prices with E15 gas sales. How much could you save?

Reporting by Keith Laing, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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This story was originally published July 3, 2026 at 4:30 AM.