In January 2026, David Schweikert failed Arizona farmers and voted to advance a federal funding package, effectively voting to create an E15 Rural Domestic Energy Council in lieu of meaningful legislation to enact year-round E15. The National Corn Growers Association called the decision “weak and offensive” and warned it would neglect 500,000 American corn farmers. The Renewable Fuels Association emphasized the critical need of year-round E15 to support hard-hit farmers and lower gas prices. The biofuel trade group Growth Energy noted that failure to pass year-round E15 would “lead to farmers missing out on a critical market during the worst farm crisis in 40 years.” In 2023, Growth Energy lauded the Arizona Department of Agriculture for implementing a rule that would expand the sale of E15 in the greater Phoenix area and allow Arizona to take “advantage of lower-cost, lower-carbon E15 blends.”
January 2026: Schweikert Voted To Adopt A Rule To Consider A Federal Funding Package And Effectively Voted To Establish An E15 Rural Domestic Energy Council. In January 2026, Schweikert voted for, according to Congressional Quarterly, the rule that “…would deem as adopted a resolution (H Res 375), as amended by a substitute amendment, that would establish a House E-15 Rural Domestic Energy Council, comprised of members appointed by Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to develop legislation dealing with E15, or gasoline blended with 15 percent ethanol content; biofuels mandates under the Renewable Fuel Standard; refinery capacity; regulatory burdens facing the industry and more.” The vote was on the rule. The House agreed to the rule by a vote of 214 to 213. [House Vote 41, 1/22/26; Congressional Quarterly, 1/22/26; Congressional Actions, H.Res. 1014; Congressional Actions, H.Res. 375]
National Corn Growers Association President Jed Bower Said They Were “Disgusted” And Called The Decision To Create A Council “Weak And Offensive,” Highlighting How The Council Was A “Process-Ridden Task Force That Kicks The Can Down The Road Once Again” And Neglected 500,000 American Corn Farmers. According to a press release from the National Corn Growers Association, “The House is expected to advance a funding bill today that omits language that would allow consumers across the country to access fuels with a 15% corn ethanol blend, often referred to as E15. In response to this development, Ohio farmer and National Corn Growers Association President Jed Bower released the following statement: ‘Corn growers are disgusted, disappointed, and disillusioned that after spending years calling for passage of E15, Congress has again punted, and it has done so in a spectacularly weak and offensive way. Bizarrely, members of Congress are now planning to establish a rural energy council to explore this legislation as if we are in the beginning stages of discussing E15. We already have a bill. We already have an agreement with the petroleum industry after months of negotiation. But instead of acting, Congress is now suggesting a process-ridden task force that kicks the can down the road once again. Congress is choosing to leave America’s 500,000 corn farmers behind in favor of a handful of refineries.’” [Press Release – National Corn Growers Association, 1/22/26]
Renewable Fuels Association President Geoff Cooper Slammed The U.S. House For Letting Year-Round E15 “Slip Away” And Argued That The Federal Funding Package Was “Undoubtedly Congress’ Best Opportunity To Open A Critical New Market For Hard-Hit Farmers And Deliver Lower Gas Prices.” According to Western Ag Network, “Geoff Cooper, president of the Renewable Fuels Association, said the E15 bill was already a compromise between farmers, refiners, fuel retailers and others. Cooper said a small group of midsized refiners were able to influence lawmakers to block the E15 fix. ‘The current appropriations process was undoubtedly Congress' best opportunity to open a critical new market for hard-hit farmers and deliver lower gas prices to American families,’ Cooper said. ‘It is unfathomable to us that just a handful of midsized oil refiners, including foreign-owned companies, were apparently able to blow the whole thing up.’” [Western Ag Network, 1/23/26]
Biofuel Trade Group Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor Called The Vote A “Disgrace” And Noted That Failure To Pass Year-Round E15 Would “Lead To Farmers Missing Out On A Critical Market During The Worst Farm Crisis In 40 Years.” According to Western Ag Network, “Growth Energy called the council, a ‘disgrace,’ saying it was meant to create another bill that would help the petroleum industry instead of agriculture. ‘Congress picked foreign refiners over American farmers and drivers today. What a travesty,’ said Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy. ‘E15 delivers cost savings for consumers and generates long-term demand for American agriculture. These have been the facts during the 12-year-long debate over the simple act of allowing consumers the choice to buy a better value fuel year-round. Failure to act will now lead to farmers missing out on a critical market during the worst farm crisis in 40 years.’” [Western Ag Network, 1/23/26]
2023: Growth Energy Lauded The Arizona Department Of Agriculture Weights And Measures Services Division’s Rule To Allow The Sale Of E15 In The Greater Phoenix Area, Allowing Arizona To Take “Advantage Of Lower-Cost, Lower-Carbon E15 Blends.” According to a press release from Growth Energy, “Growth Energy today hailed a final rule by the Arizona Department of Agriculture Weights and Measures Services Division to allow the sale of E15 in the greater Phoenix area under the state’s Clean Burning Gasoline (CBG) program. While E15 is currently allowed in other areas in Arizona, regional restrictions will no longer discourage retailers from bringing new options to the pump statewide. The rule takes effect on March 5, 2023. ‘E15 delivered big savings for working families over this past year, and that momentum continues to grow,’ noted Growth Energy Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley, who submitted comments in favor of the rule last August. ‘We’re excited to see Arizona opening the door for more drivers to take advantage of lower-cost, lower-carbon E15 blends. Not only will this rule lift outdated limits on our retail partners, it positions Arizona to take full advantage of new federal infrastructure resources to expand competition at the pump. We’re grateful to the Arizona Department of Agriculture and leaders in the Weights and Measures Services Division, as well as the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality’s Air Quality Division and Maricopa Association of Governments, for their diligent work to help us get this important update over the finish line.’” [Press Release – Growth Energy, 3/3/23]