The Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy issued an emergency waiver to allow E10 gas sales earlier than usual.
The Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy issued an emergency waiver allowing the sale of E10 gas with a higher evaporation rating starting September 1, 2026. This move allows for the sale of gasoline with up to 15% ethanol content during the summer months to help control fuel prices at the pump. While higher ethanol content typically exacerbates ground-level ozone in high temperatures, the administration announced the waiver to mitigate the impact of the ongoing war in Iran on fuel prices. The EPA noted that state-level controls in Texas, Arizona, and California were waived for up to 20 days beyond September 15. The agency also criticized blue-state politicians in New York and California for not adopting these standards, which the EPA claimed has driven up prices for their residents. While the move helps stabilize costs, it may cause a slight reduction in fuel economy for some vehicles and create issues for older cars not designed for high ethanol content.