Arizona drivers may catch a break at the pump this summer after the federal government issued an emergency fuel waiver, a move that Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen (R-AZ) says he helped push for.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Tuesday it would temporarily allow nationwide sales of E15, a gasoline blend containing 15 percent ethanol, and remove federal restrictions on E10 blends across the country.
The waivers will take effect May 1, 2026, and are initially set to last through May 20, though the EPA says it is prepared to extend them if supply conditions warrant.
Petersen wasted no time claiming a role in the decision. "I have been in direct talks with the Trump administration and asked the EPA to free Arizona from onerous and expensive boutique fuel blend requirements," he wrote on X, thanking both President Donald Trump and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin by name.
He also turned his attention to the state level, calling on Governor Katie Hobbs (D-AZ) to waive any equivalent Arizona restrictions to maximize relief for drivers.
Without state action, Arizonans may not see the full benefit of the federal move.
Arizona Relies on Refineries
The state relies heavily on out-of-state refineries for its fuel supply, and that supply chain is already under pressure.
Multiple California refining facilities have shut down in recent months, with another closure expected in April, raising the prospect of tighter supplies and higher prices heading into the summer driving season.
The EPA's waiver addresses that concern by temporarily suspending summer low-volatility requirements and so-called boutique fuel standards, state-specific blending rules that can limit which fuels can be sold in a given market.
By adopting a single national standard, the agency aims to give fuel distributors greater flexibility and keep more supply flowing.
E15 is currently available at roughly 3,000 gas stations nationwide and is generally priced lower than standard gasoline. Without the waiver, federal rules would have prevented it from being sold in about half the country during the summer months.
For Arizona commuters already navigating some of the region's longest stretches of highway, the difference could show up in real dollars. How much relief materializes, however, will depend largely on whether Governor Hobbs acts and how quickly.
