The California State Senate has unanimously passed a bill allowing the sale of cheaper “E15 blended gasoline,” which is expected to lower the state’s highest gasoline prices in the United States.
The bill passed the Senate on September 3 by a vote of 39-0 and will now be sent to the governor’s office. If Governor Newsom signs it, California will join the ranks of the other 49 states in allowing the sale of E15 gasoline containing 15% ethanol.
The bill was introduced by members of the bipartisan “California Problem Solvers Caucus,” Assemblymembers David Alvarez and Heath Flora. Even though the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has not completed the related rule-making process initiated in 2018, if AB30 becomes law, it will immediately allow for the sale of E15 gasoline. CARB is evaluating whether E15 meets California’s air quality and gasoline standards, but progress has been delayed due to technical research and regulatory hurdles.
Alvarez, a Democratic assemblyman from southern San Diego County, described the bill as a practical bipartisan solution to address high gasoline prices. “AB30 is about reducing the burden of gasoline costs for Californians,” he said in a statement. “Families across the state pay the highest gasoline prices in the nation, and adopting E15 blended gasoline is estimated to save California drivers $2.7 billion annually. This bill shows that we can both lower costs and promote cleaner fuel options.”
Flora, a Republican assemblyman representing northern San Joaquin Valley, stated that AB30 will compel regulatory agencies to approve “a cheaper, cleaner blend of gasoline that drivers in the other 49 states have long been using. California should have been at the forefront, putting consumer interests first.”
Currently, California tops the nation in gasoline prices. According to data from the American Automobile Association (AAA) as of September 5, the average price of regular gasoline in California is $4.61 per gallon, while the national average gasoline price is only $3.20 per gallon.
Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, and the U.S. Naval Academy estimate that E15 could lower gasoline prices by 20 cents per gallon, saving $2.7 billion annually for the 28 million drivers in California.
Another analysis from the University of California, Riverside, found that E15 can reduce particulate matter emissions compared to standard fuels.
While E15 is sold in many states, some states prohibit the sale of such gasoline during the summer months to avoid smog pollution issues, as stipulated by the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments.
In April 2025, following an executive order from President Trump, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued emergency gasoline waivers allowing nationwide summer sales of E15 gasoline. Prior to this, about half of the states in the U.S. prohibited E15 sales during the summer.
The “Problem Solvers Caucus” has been advocating for this issue since 2023-2024. The caucus consists of bipartisan members focused on working together to solve problems.