Orlando: The ethanol industry has called for greater policy support to expand market opportunities, with Geoff Cooper saying the sector needs to be “set free” to reach its full potential, My Journal Courier reported.
Speaking at the National Ethanol Conference, Cooper said 2025 was a strong year for the industry, but growth could have been higher with fewer regulatory limits.
He highlighted exports as a key achievement, with a record 2.2 billion gallons of ethanol shipped overseas. The industry also produced 35 million metric tonnes of high-protein animal feed and 4.7 billion pounds of distillers corn oil.
Domestic consumption reached 14.3 billion gallons in 2025, the highest level in six years. Cooper said ethanol remained one of the largest users of U.S. corn, with about 5.6 billion bushels of corn and grain sorghum used for fuel production.
He noted that ethanol demand has helped support farm incomes during a difficult period, adding that corn prices could have been significantly lower without the industry’s contribution.
Despite these gains, Cooper said growth is being held back by regulatory hurdles, particularly restrictions on the sale of E15 fuel, which contains 15% ethanol. Currently, E15 cannot be sold year-round due to existing rules, limiting its availability during peak summer months.
He said many fuel retailers are reluctant to offer E15 unless it can be sold throughout the year, even though it is considered a cleaner and cost-effective option.
Industry groups have been pushing for nationwide year-round approval of E15, but efforts in Congress have faced delays. Lawmakers have instead set up a panel to study the issue and prepare future legislation.
During a discussion at the conference, Jordan Dux said farmers are keen on expanding E15 use, especially with large corn supplies in the market, as it could help boost demand.
Officials from the United States Environmental Protection Agency said new rules on renewable fuel targets are under review, including how exemptions for small refineries will be handled.
Industry representatives have called for clarity in these rules, saying stable policies will help both farmers and fuel producers plan ahead.Cooper said the industry is ready to grow further if given the opportunity, stressing that removing policy barriers would allow ethanol to play a bigger role in supporting agriculture and clean energy.
