Committee advances bill to clear equipment barrier for E15 fuel availability

The Assembly Emergency Management Committee on Monday voted to send SB 795 to the Assembly floor after hearing testimony that the bill removes an unintended regulatory barrier to wider retail availability of E15 fuel.

Senator Archuleta, the bill's author, told the committee the measure is a "bipartisan measure that provides a narrow technical fix needed to complete California's implementation of E15 fuel." He described the change as limited: "The bill allows equipment already approved for E10 to be used with E15 when the equipment manufacturer certifies that it is compatible with E15," and added that the measure "does not eliminate California's fire and safety precautions and protections" and leaves regulatory authority with the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

Archuleta argued the bill would help address supply and affordability challenges. "E15 provides another tool to increase fuel supply and competition with the potential to save California drivers approximately 20¢ per gallon or more given the increased cost of oil," he said.

Committee members heard that the measure is intended as a technical fix to an equipment-certification issue that has slowed E15 deployment. The chair noted the committee recommendation to "do pass," and after a roll-call vote the committee recorded unanimous support and sent the bill to the Assembly floor for further consideration.

The bill's next step is consideration on the Assembly floor; the committee did not amend the measure during the hearing.