SACRAMENTO, CALIF.—Growth Energy, the nation’s largest biofuel trade association, applauded the California State Senate today after the legislature unanimously approved AB 30, a bill that would finally allow California fuel retailers to sell E15, a fuel option made with 15% American ethanol that’s approved for use in 96% of all light-duty vehicles on the road today.
Specifically, AB 30 provisionally approves E15 for sale in California while the California Air Resources Board (CARB) completes its environmental review of this fuel option, which burns cleaner and can save California drivers from 10 to 30 cents per gallon on average. The bill’s passage is the result of a years-long effort led by Growth Energy to demonstrate to California lawmakers and regulators that E15 is not only better for the environment—it’s also more affordable than ordinary fuel and could potentially save Californians millions of dollars while simultaneously reducing their environmental impact.
“After nearly 15 years since E15 was first approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and has been legal to sell in every other state, California has finally approved E15 for use in the nation’s second-largest fuel market,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor after the Senate approved the bill. “We thank Assembly Member David Alvarez and the Problem Solvers Caucus for continuing to push to make this cost-saving fuel available to Californians and we urge Governor Newsom to sign AB 30 into law right away.”
“Growth Energy has already begun to provide technical expertise in support of CARB’s still-forthcoming E15 approval rulemaking, and we encourage the state to identify other ways to maximize the impact AB 30 can have in the short-term,” Skor added. “With AB 30, the legislature heard and responded to California drivers that demanded more affordable fuel options. We thank lawmakers for listening, and look forward to working with fuel retailers and state regulators to get this fuel into the tanks of California motorists as quickly as possible.”
The California General Assembly unanimously approved AB 30 on August 29. With the Senate’s passage, the bill now heads to California Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk for final signature.
Learn more about the benefits of E15 here.
