Kentucky Dumps Cleaner Gas Rules, Cheaper Pumps Ahead
Published Date: 3/2/2026
Rule
Summary
Starting May 27, 2026, Kentucky’s part of the Louisville area will no longer have to use special cleaner reformulated gasoline (RFG). This change affects Jefferson, Bullitt, and Oldham Counties and comes after Kentucky asked the EPA to opt out of the program. It won’t cost drivers extra, but it means gas stations there can sell regular gasoline again.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Drivers Can Buy Regular Gas Again
Starting May 27, 2026, the Kentucky portion of the Louisville Area (Jefferson, Bullitt, and Oldham Counties) will no longer be required to use reformulated gasoline (RFG) during the summer ozone season. The change means gas stations in those counties can sell regular (conventional) gasoline again and the EPA states this will not cost drivers extra.
Fuel Businesses Freed From RFG Sales Rule
As of May 27, 2026, retailers, wholesale purchasers, refiners, importers, distributors, and transporters doing business in the Kentucky portion of the Louisville Area (Jefferson, Bullitt, and Oldham Counties) are no longer required to sell reformulated gasoline (RFG) during the high ozone season. That means these fuel businesses in those counties can sell conventional gasoline again and are no longer subject to the RFG sale/dispensing restrictions during the applicable season.
Small Modeled Increase in Local Emissions
The EPA and Kentucky modeled emissions if RFG is removed and found small increases in summer-season onroad emissions in 2026: onroad NOX up by 0.06 tons per day and onroad VOCs up by 0.20 tons per day. The EPA also estimated nonroad VOC increases for 2026 totaling 0.30 tons per summer day across the Kentucky portion of the Louisville Area (Jefferson 0.26, Bullitt 0.02, Oldham 0.02 tpsd).
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