The California legislature recently passed Senate Bill 795 (SB 795) that directs the state fire marshal’s office to implement regulations that give California drivers access to E15, a move that received almost universal praise from the renewable fuels industry. The bill passed unanimously out of both the Assembly (56–0) and the Senate (34–0).
All that is left is to receive the signature of Governor Gavin Newsom before becoming state law. SB 795 would allow fuel retailers to use existing vapor recovery systems to dispense E15, potentially clearing a remaining regulatory hurdle before the fuel can be sold statewide.
According to a recent UC Berkely study, Using a 15% blend of ethanol would reduce the cost of blended gasoline to California consumers by $2.7 billion per year. E15 was approved for year-round use in California by Assembly Bill 30, which was signed into law in October 2025. However, the implementation of E15 has been delayed by equipment certification requirements, which SB 795 resolves.
Geoff Cooper, President and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association, said, “The passage of this bill means Californians will finally be able to enjoy savings at the pump with a lower-cost fuel blend that’s also better for the environment. We thank principal authors Sens. Bob Archuletta and Suzette Martinez Valladares, and Assemblymember David Alvarez, as well as the entire bipartisan California Problem Solvers Caucus for their leadership and commitment to reducing gas prices for California families. We are also grateful to Gov. Gavin Newsom for his ongoing strong support of E15.”
Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor called it “a great day for drivers in the Golden State. Lawmakers have opened the door for them to access E15, which sells for less and burns cleaner than other fuel options. Last year, California lawmakers took action against high prices at the pump by unanimously approving AB 30, legalizing E15 in California. Since then, the state has worked through regulatory questions that have been addressed by SB 795.”
Eric McAfee, Chairman and CEO of Aemetis, said, “As a leading California ethanol producer for the past 15 years, Aemetis has long advocated for the state to allow E15 in order to lower the cost of gasoline and provide a choice for consumers. This regulatory fix is a major step in opening California’s market to more American-made ethanol.”
SB 795, now known as the E15 Clean-Up Act, was initially introduced as a workers’ compensation measure for professional athletes. However, it was gutted and amended Friday to allow retailers to use existing Stage II equipment to dispense gasoline containing E15 if the equipment manufacturer submits a compatibility statement to the appropriate state agencies.
