Michigan lawmakers weigh year-round E15 fuel sales

Michigan drivers may soon find E15 gasoline at the pump year-round. Lawmakers are looking at a bill that would end the state's summer ban on this ethanol blend. House Bill 6281 would change how Michigan sets vapor pressure rules for gasoline. Right now, those rules keep E15 off the market during the summer. The push comes as the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee has moved the Agricultural Act of 2026 forward. That federal bill includes a plan for permanent, year-round E15 sales nationwide. If it passes, states like Michigan would have to adjust their own rules, according to the U.S. Senate Committee and the Office of Sen. Deb Fischer.

Michigan law now sets a summer vapor pressure cap of 9.0 pounds per square inch from June 1 to September 15. Some southeastern counties face even tighter limits. These rules have kept E15-a fuel with 15 percent ethanol-off the shelves during the state's busiest driving season. In Oakland County, both Farmington and Farmington Hills are affected. Local stations there must follow a stricter 7.0 psi standard for the region.

Proposed changes to fuel standards

If lawmakers pass H.B. 6281, Michigan would drop its summer vapor pressure limits for gasoline. The 7.0 psi rule in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, Livingston, Monroe, St. Clair, and Lenawee counties would also go. Instead, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) would set vapor pressure rules to match federal law and ASTM specs, unless state or federal law says otherwise. The bill also calls for E15 pumps to carry labels that meet federal guidelines. That would apply to all retail stations, including those in the Farmington Public Schools district, where school bus fleets could use the new fuel option.

Michigan's current law blocks E15 sales in the summer. But in 2026, drivers could buy E15 after Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order. That order paused the state's vapor pressure rules for a season. It followed emergency waivers from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for both E15 and E10 blends. These waivers have only been a short-term fix at the federal level. The new congressional plan would make year-round E15 sales the rule across the country, ending the patchwork of seasonal exceptions, according to the Office of Sen. Deb Fischer.

Tax credits for ethanol blends under review

Lawmakers are also looking at a separate bill, H.B. 5359, to create new tax credits for retailers who sell E15 and E85 ethanol blends. The House passed this bill 77 to 21 on August 26. It now heads to the Senate. If it becomes law, retailers could claim a refundable tax credit-5 cents per gallon for E15 and 85 cents per gallon for E85-on sales from January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2030. Growth Energy says E15 usually costs 20 to 40 cents less per gallon than regular gasoline. That could mean savings for families and city fleets, according to U.S. House press materials.

These bills are part of a bigger trend in Michigan. Lawmakers have been trying to take more control over energy and environmental rules. For example, as reported earlier, Michigan is working to take over carbon capture project permitting from the federal government. The goal is to speed up approvals and bring in new investment. Residents can keep up with public hearings and committee meetings on these bills through the Michigan Legislature portal.

What happens next

H.B. 6281 was introduced on August 27 and sent to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The committee will review it before any full House vote. If the bill moves forward, Michigan could join other states in allowing E15 sales all year, as long as stations follow federal rules and labeling. The final decision will shape whether drivers across the state, including in Farmington and Oakland County, get permanent access to E15 at the pump.

Michigan's fuel rules are shaped by both state and federal law. MDARD enforces quality and safety at gas stations. The debate over E15 shows how lawmakers are trying to balance federal requirements with local market needs and energy goals. As the legislature debates these bills, the real impact for drivers and fuel sellers will depend on the final wording and how state officials put the rules in place. Residents who want updates on local policy can check the Farmington City Council for public comment notices and community meeting info.