We’re less than halfway into 2026, yet it’s already been an action-packed year for biofuels. For the eighth year in a row, E15 will remain available all summer long thanks to federal waivers. Biofuel producers are hard at work planning new investments that will take advantage of the expanded 45Z clean fuel production tax credit. And the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is on track to deliver at least 15 billion gallons of conventional biofuel demand in both 2026 and 2027. At the same time, we’re expecting a banner year for biofuel exports, building on the record set in 2025.
To top it off, a bill to permanently allow the year-round, nationwide sale of E15 passed the House on a strong, bipartisan vote. That took an all-out sprint on Capitol Hill unlike anything our industry had done before. Three fly-ins in five weeks. Three-hundred Hill meetings. Five separate ad campaigns. Thousands of calls and letters into congressional offices. Growth Energy was relentless — and we won.
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Now we’re bringing that same energy to the Senate, but all signs suggest the farmers, workers, consumers, and communities that benefit from bioethanol have reason for optimism. And the stakes are too high to let our foot off the gas. Farmers are struggling to close the gap between supply and demand, and rural communities are suffering. With the largest corn harvest ever recorded, the need for more certain and reliable markets for U.S. corn has never been more urgent.
So how do we keep building momentum for bioethanol?
First and foremost, from the marketplace to public policy, bioethanol is on the rise because bioethanol works. We are the only fuel that lowers prices at the pump, backstops rural prosperity, ensures cleaner air, and underwrites American energy security, all at the same time. It’s the same in the political arena. Republicans are focused on lower prices and U.S. energy dominance. Democrats want to continue lower-carbon progress in a changed landscape. And both sides want to strengthen the farm economy. Only one energy source checks all these boxes simultaneously. Bioethanol works for everyone.
The other driving force behind our momentum is strategic and practical: our industry makes sure we are in the room.
Leading Growth Energy, I’ve seen it time and again. There is nothing more powerful than an in-person interaction between a policymaker and a bioethanol producer from their state or district. Yes, our scientific expertise and research matter. Yes, events and press coverage make a big difference. But the key point where all that groundwork turns into an outcome is when you sit down face-to-face with your Senator or member of Congress and make it personal.
It’s not enough to win support. We also have to drive urgency. An elected official may fully grasp the benefits of bioethanol, but the instant that our meeting concludes and we exit their office, a dozen other urgent priorities and constituent requests come rushing in. The solution is relentless, respectful consistency. Call, write, and reach out more than you think you need to.
And take advantage of every opportunity to keep bioethanol front-and-center. For example, in January, the team at POET swiftly and effectively mobilized biofuel supporters to attend President Trump’s speech in Iowa. Their presence was seen and heard. And, cheered on by the crowd, the President called on Congress to send year-round E15 legislation to his desk without delay. That’s how we secure more big wins for the American people.
