NATSO, Coalition Urge Narrow Focus for E15 Rural Domestic Energy Council

NATSO and a broad coalition of industry organizations representing retailers, ethanol producers, farmers and refiners urged the newly formed  E15 Rural Domestic Energy Council to focus exclusively on E15 and to build off of the “Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act” (H.R. 1346) in order to meet its expedited deadline for a legislative proposal this month.

In a January 30, 2026, letter to Reps. Stephanie Bice (R-OK) and Randy Feenstra (R-IA), who have been assigned as co-chairs of the council, NATSO recommended keeping a “narrow scope related to the production and sale of E15 by building off the work of H.R. 1346” in order to meet the February deadline. NATSO said if the council delves into other issues it risks completing action on this important priority. The council must submit a legislative solution to the full House by February 15. NATSO said H.R. 1346, as amended, should significantly inform the council’s work and reminded the council that it had broad support from biofuels, agriculture, fuel retail and oil refining interests.

“This legislation, as amended, should significantly inform the council’s work and provides the best starting point for any further deliberations,” NATSO wrote. “We applaud this expedited time frame as fuel producers and retailers are making decisions now about product offerings over the next year, farmers are making planting decisions, and a legislative fix is needed as soon as possible to provide fuel producers and retailers with a predictable policy framework as we approach the summer driving season.”

Rep. Adrian Smith’s legislative proposal offered during the Rules Committee meeting had broad industry support from biofuel, agriculture, fuel retail and oil refining interests. Specifically, the Nationwide Consumer and Retailer Choice Act would have fixed outdated regulations on summer sales of E15 and limited the marketplace distortions caused by Small Refiner Exemptions (SRE) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

That legislative proposal ultimately did not advance amid concerns that it would stall broader efforts to advance the House must-pass appropriations package needed to fund the government. Lawmakers agreed to form the Rural Domestic Energy Council to address the issue of the sale of year-round E15. The Council is expected to submit a legislative solution to the full House by February 15.

In confirming his participation in the E15 Rural Domestic Energy Council, Rep. Adrian Smith said, “For the past two years I have been leading the charge to bring agriculture, biofuel, and petroleum stakeholders together in order to deliver regulatory relief and provide certainty. Something that strengthens every link in our domestic energy supply chain. But let me be absolutely clear: this council is not a substitute for action, and I refuse to let it be utilized as a delaying tactic. It is a results-driven commitment. My colleagues and I on this council will deliver a viable, durable path forward for nationwide, year-round E15.”

NATSO, Coalition Letter to E15 Rural Domestic Energy Council

Tiffany Wlazlowski Neuman

Wlazlowski Neuman leads NATSO and the NATSO Foundation’s public affairs initiatives and communications strategies to promote the truck stop and travel center industry to the public, opinion leaders, elected officials, and the media. Her outreach includes a spectrum of policy issues facing the industry, with a particular focus on transportation and fuel issues, truck parking, and human trafficking. She serves as NATSO’s representative on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Truck Parking Coalition, the Clean Freight Coalition, and various state truck parking technical advisory committees. She is the architect of the truck stop and travel center industry’s anti-human trafficking campaign and currently serves as a Committee member for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Human Trafficking Advisory Council. Wlazlowski Neuman serves on the American Highway Users Policy and Government Affairs Committee.

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