Ethanol to save drivers $140M over Thanksgiving weekend

In Washington, an analysis by the Renewable Fuels Association suggests that the presence of ethanol in our nation’s gasoline is expected to save Thanksgiving travelers nearly $140 million on gasoline purchases over the long holiday weekend.

Based on the most recent monthly data, E10, a 10% ethanol blend that is prevalent at gas stations nationwide, is saving drivers $0.32 per gallon at the pump. The discount has averaged $0.23 per gallon since January—on pace to reduce Americans’ spending on gasoline by $34 billion, or $240 per household, for the year as a whole.

The discount is even greater for E15, a 15% ethanol blend that is approved for more than 95% of the cars and trucks on the road today. According to E15prices.com, the national average retail price of E15 has been $0.35 per gallon less than E10 this year (the differential stood at $0.38 on November 16). If E15 were adopted nationwide, it would reduce household spending on gasoline by $47 billion this year, or almost $370 per household. And, as recently noted by EIA, E15 helped keep a lid on pump prices in the summer of 2022, as the market faced tight fuel supplies and record-high prices.