U.S. Representative Michelle Fischbach said on April 24 that she is leading an effort to introduce an amendment to the 2026 Farm Bill aimed at making permanent, year-round E15 fuel available nationwide. Fischbach made the statement in a post on social media as reported by her congressional office while leading the submission of the amendment to the House Rules Committee for consideration in the Farm Bill. The amendment was filed after the House Agriculture Committee advanced the base legislation in March, opening the door for changes addressing ethanol and the Renewable Fuel Standard. The Rules Committee is scheduled to review the proposals next week.
The topic is significant for Minnesota and other agricultural states where corn production and ethanol output are major economic drivers. Minnesota ranks among the top states for corn production and ethanol output with plants purchasing an estimated 500.5 million bushels of corn in recent years representing about 34 percent of the state’s harvest. Western Minnesota districts rely heavily on agriculture with ethanol infrastructure supporting thousands of jobs in crop production wholesale trade and related sectors. Retail locations offering E15 have expanded steadily with sales volumes setting records in recent years and contributing to local economic activity, according to Ethanol RFA.
Fischbach said, “For too long, outdated regulations have blocked access to lower-cost, American-grown fuel. This common-sense fix will lower prices at the pump for hardworking families. Provide certainty for our corn growers and rural economies,” according to her social media post.
U.S. ethanol production reached a record 16.49 billion gallons in 2025 utilizing roughly 33 percent of domestic corn output or about 5.6 billion bushels annually. Expanding access to higher ethanol blends nationwide could boost corn demand by an additional 2.4 billion bushels per year while adding billions to GDP and supporting rural jobs through increased domestic fuel production. The national average ethanol blend rate has climbed past 10 percent with further growth possible through policy updates, according to Ethanol RFA.
Fischbach has represented Minnesota’s 7th Congressional District since 2021 focusing on rural and agricultural issues. She previously served as lieutenant governor and in the state senate where she held leadership roles including being the first woman to serve as president of the Minnesota Senate, according to her congressional office.
