California E15 bill helps farmers

Gov. Gavin Newsom made news this week when he signed legislation to make E15, a fuel blend with 15% biofuel for all cars 2001 and newer, available in California. In doing so he delivered a victory that reaches far beyond the West Coast. He is helping consumers save money at the pump, taking a step forward on reducing emissions, and signaling to rural America that they have an important role to play in the energy space

For Californians, the impact starts at the pump. In California, gasoline costs are putting the squeeze on drivers, with an average price that is about$1.50 per gallon higher than the national average. As Iowans are well aware, E15 provides immediate relief, offering savings of 20 cents per gallon. In a high cost-of-livings state like California, those savings will make a real difference for working families.

This decision also reflects the preferences of Californians themselves. The state was an early leader in adopting E85 for flex-fuel vehicles, with 114.7 million gallons of E85 sold in 2024. That track record shows that drivers are eager to embrace cleaner, more affordable choices when given the chance. Extending that choice to E15 isn’t just good economics — it’s an acknowledgment that biofuels are part of the state’s energy future.

For Iowa farmers, Newsom’s signature couldn’t come at a more important time. Farm income in our state is projected to drop by nearly 25% in 2026. Many families are already operating on razor-thin margins, with the bottom third of Iowa farms posting losses even before accounting for debt. Opening the nation’s largest fuel market to E15, is not only good policy — it’s a lifeline for rural economies across the Midwest.

This decision also offers lessons for Democrats nationally. Too often, our party has been falsely caricatured as focused only on urban and coastal elites, while rural voices are left unheard. Supporting biofuels gives Democrats a chance to prove otherwise while delivering real progress toward decarbonizing the transportation sector.

For example, a recent University of California Riverside study confirmed that E15 can deliver life cycle greenhouse gas savings compared to California’s standard gasoline blend, along with reductions in other pollutants. Equally important, it can be used by any driver with a vehicle 2001 or newer — including those who may not be able to afford an electric car.

By signing this bill, Gov. Newsom has shown that Democrats support an “all of the above” climate strategy: EVs, yes, but also biofuels that deliver results today for cars and trucks already on the road. That’s not just smart policy — it’s smart politics. If Democrats want to rebuild trust in the heartland, they need to fight for the policies that farmers and working families can see and feel in their everyday lives.

Gov. Newsom’s decision to legalize E15 in California is one of those policies. It helps consumers, it helps farmers, it helps the climate — and it shows that Democrats stand with rural America. Hopefully, others seeking nationwide office take note.

Patty Judge is a former Iowa lieutenant governor and state secretary of agriculture.