Newsom signs bill to allow E15 gas blend

Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed bipartisan legislation that is intended to help bring down the cost of gasoline in California.  

The governor signed Assembly Bill 30 by Assemblyman David Alvarez, D-San Diego, which allows an additional blend of gasoline – E15 fuel specifically – to be sold in the state while the California Air Resources Board completes its ongoing work to study whether the additional blend can meet the state’s clean air requirements.  

Sen. Suzette Martinez Valladares, R-Acton, co-chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus, announced that the bill was a priority for the caucus. Valladares co-authored AB 30 with other members of the bipartisan caucus. 

“California has established ambitious clean energy goals, but we must also prioritize affordability,” Valladares, whose district includes most of the Santa Clarita Valley, said in a news release. “California’s sky-high taxes and excessive regulations have created an affordability crisis that’s impacting families across the state. AB 30 is a common-sense, bipartisan solution that helps reduce fuel costs while advancing cleaner energy options.” 

E15, a blend of 15% ethanol and 85% gasoline, has been used safely and effectively across the nation for over a decade, Valladares’ release said. It burns cleaner than traditional fuels and offers drivers a cost-effective alternative at the pump. Before this bill was signed, California was the only state in the nation that had not yet permitted the sale of E15, the release said.  

“Today is a win for California families. With the governor signing AB 30, drivers across the state will finally see some relief at the pump through the adoption of E15 fuel. This is about lowering costs while also moving toward cleaner energy solutions,” Alvarez, a Problem Solvers Caucus co-chair, said in the release from Valladares’ office. “Californians have been paying some of the highest gas prices in the nation for far too long, and this bipartisan solution shows what can be achieved when we put people over politics. I thank Gov. Newsom for making this bill law.” 

“The price of gas impacts everything from commuting to the cost of groceries,” Valladares added. “I am grateful that the governor has signed this bill, bringing California in line with the rest of the nation, delivering both environmental benefits and much-needed economic relief. We must now re-double our efforts to address California’s affordability crisis.” 

Last October, the governor directed CARB to accelerate studying how California could increase ethanol blending in gasoline while maintaining environmental protections. Authorizing the use of this alternative gasoline fuel blend reduces the state’s dependence on petroleum and further diversifies the state fuel supply, helping to avoid gasoline price spikes and costs to consumers at the pump. 

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