California’s unanimous Assembly vote to legalize E15 gasoline signals a rare moment of fiscal sanity in a state notorious for its crushing cost-of-living and nation-leading fuel prices.
Key Takeaways
- Assembly Bill 30, the “Cleaner, Cheaper Fuels Act,” passed the California Assembly with a unanimous 65-0 vote, showing rare bipartisan support in the Democrat-dominated legislature.
- California is currently the only state in the nation that prohibits E15 gasoline, which contains 15% ethanol and could save drivers approximately 20 cents per gallon.
- A UC Berkeley study suggests E15 could save California consumers up to $2.7 billion annually while providing environmental benefits.
- Despite passage in the Assembly, the bill faces potential hurdles in the Senate, where a similar proposal previously stalled.
- The legislation requires a two-thirds majority in the Senate as an “urgency statute” that would take effect immediately upon the governor’s signature.
A Rare Moment of Cost-Consciousness in California
In what can only be described as a moment of clarity from California’s typically tax-happy legislature, Assembly Bill 30 – known as the “Cleaner, Cheaper Fuels Act” – passed the state Assembly with a unanimous 65-0 vote. The bill would legalize E15 gasoline, which contains up to 15% ethanol, bringing California in line with the rest of the nation. This move represents a surprising acknowledgment from California Democrats that their policies have created an unsustainable cost burden on citizens already struggling with the highest cost of living in the continental United States.
California currently stands as the only state in the nation that prohibits the sale of E15 gasoline, a restriction that has helped contribute to the state’s astronomical fuel prices. As of June 4, 2025, California’s average gas price stood at $4.73 per gallon – the highest in the nation. The bill is now headed to the state Senate, where Democrats must decide whether to continue their war on affordable energy or provide citizens with much-needed relief at the pump.
Economic Benefits Driving Bipartisan Support
The unanimous Assembly vote reflects growing recognition that California’s extreme regulatory environment has created an affordability crisis that even Democrats can no longer ignore. A study conducted by the University of California, Berkeley, and the U.S. Naval Academy projects that introducing E15 could save California consumers up to $2.7 billion annually. For working-class families, particularly those in the Central Valley who must drive long distances, the estimated savings of 20 cents per gallon would provide tangible relief from the state’s punishing energy policies.
“Given the potential for allowing E15 gasoline to increase fuel supply and reduce gasoline prices, with little to no environmental harm, it is prudent for CARB to prioritize resources that would allow for the expeditious completion of this process,” said Newsom, Governor of California.
Outgoing Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom has thrown his support behind the legislation, even allocating $2.3 million in the budget to help the California Air Resources Board (CARB) finalize the E15 rule-making process. This move suggests that even Newsom, architect of many of California’s anti-consumer energy policies, recognizes that the state’s residents are reaching their breaking point with the unaffordable cost of living his administration has helped create.
Environmental Considerations and Opposition
While the bill has gained broad support, some environmental groups have expressed concerns that E15 could increase smog during summer months. This opposition highlights the typical pattern in California, where theoretical environmental concerns frequently override practical economic realities for struggling families. However, the Renewable Fuels Association has countered these concerns, emphasizing that E15 represents a win for both consumers and the environment.
“[E15] represents a clear win-win for both California consumers and the environment,” said Geoff Cooper, President and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association.
The bill’s designation as an “urgency statute” underscores the critical nature of this legislation for Californians struggling under the weight of inflation and state-imposed energy costs. If passed by the Senate with the required two-thirds majority and signed by the governor, the law would take effect immediately, providing swift relief at the pump. For a state that has consistently prioritized environmental virtue signaling over economic realities, this bill represents a small but significant step toward acknowledging the crushing burden their policies have placed on everyday citizens.
Senate Hurdles Remain
Despite unanimous Assembly support, the bill’s future remains uncertain in the Senate, where similar proposals have previously stalled. The requirement for a two-thirds majority as an urgency measure adds another layer of complexity to the legislative process. California drivers, already paying nearly $2 more per gallon than states with more sensible energy policies, are left wondering if their elected officials will finally prioritize their economic well-being over ideological commitments to green energy fantasies.
“Affordability” said Jeff Wilkerson, CFO of Pearson Fuels.
The coming Senate vote will reveal whether California Democrats are truly committed to addressing the cost-of-living crisis they’ve created, or if this Assembly vote was merely political theater. With gas prices continuing to soar and working families feeling the squeeze, the stakes couldn’t be higher for a state that has become increasingly unaffordable for all but the wealthy elite. If passed, this modest reform would represent a small acknowledgment that California’s extreme energy policies have failed its citizens, particularly those of modest means who bear the brunt of progressive policy experiments.
