Wednesday, 29th July 2026

California Air Resources Board

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has announced a public hearing to consider proposed amendments to the California Reformulated Gasoline Regulations (CaRFG regulations) that would establish fuel specifications for gasoline blends containing up to 15% ethanol, commonly referred to as E15. The proposed amendments also include associated regulatory provisions for E15 and the removal of obsolete regulatory text that no longer has legal or practical effect. The Board will consider the proposal during a public hearing scheduled for September 24, 2026, at the California Environmental Protection Agency headquarters in Sacramento, California.

According to CARB, the proposed amendments are intended to provide regulatory requirements for fuel producers and importers selling E15 in California. The regulations are designed to provide certainty to the marketplace by ensuring that E15 is produced in accordance with the specifications established under the California Reformulated Gasoline Regulations. The proposal also seeks to maintain the implementation of California’s fuel programme by removing outdated compliance provisions and regulatory deadlines that are no longer necessary.

CARB explained that it is responsible for adopting and enforcing motor vehicle fuel specifications, standards, and regulations that protect public health and the environment. The agency also oversees measures aimed at reducing toxic air contaminant emissions and greenhouse gas emissions while supporting the attainment of the State and National Ambient Air Quality Standards. As part of these responsibilities, CARB administers the California Reformulated Gasoline Regulations, which establish fuel property specifications intended to reduce smog forming pollutants through continued vehicle emission reductions.

The proposal follows legislative changes introduced through Assembly Bill 30. On October 2, 2025, Governor Newsom signed AB 30, which added Section 43013.7 to the Health and Safety Code. The law became effective immediately upon enactment and allowed gasoline blends containing between 10.5% and 15% ethanol by volume to be sold in California for use as transportation fuel. Before the passage of AB 30, California regulations authorised California Reformulated Gasoline containing a maximum of 10.0% ethanol by volume together with at least 90% California Reformulated Gasoline Blendstock for Oxygenate Blending, commonly referred to as E10.

The legislation specifies that gasoline blends containing between 10.5% and 15% ethanol may continue to be sold until either the California Environmental Policy Council completes its review of the multimedia evaluation for E15 and CARB adopts regulations establishing specifications for these gasoline blends, or until CARB determines that no such regulation can satisfy the applicable requirements. The current rulemaking is intended to establish those fuel specifications and provide the regulatory framework required under the legislation.

As part of the proposed amendments, CARB is also seeking to remove outdated regulatory language where compliance dates or regulatory deadlines have already passed. The agency stated that these provisions no longer have legal or practical effect and are no longer required for the continued implementation of the California Reformulated Gasoline Regulations.

CARB has opened the rulemaking process for public participation. Interested members of the public may provide comments both orally during the public hearing and in writing before the hearing. The written public comment period will begin on July 31, 2026, and comments must be received no later than September 14, 2026. Comments submitted outside this period will be considered untimely, although CARB noted that it may, but is not required to, respond to late submissions, including those addressing significant environmental issues.

The agency also encouraged members of the public to submit suggestions for modifications to the proposed regulatory action before the hearing. Written comments may be submitted by postal mail or electronic methods to the California Air Resources Board. In addition, the Notice of Public Hearing, the Initial Statement of Reasons, and all subsequent regulatory documents have been made available through CARB’s Rulemaking webpage, allowing stakeholders to review the proposal in advance of the Board’s September 2026 meeting.