Louisville revives push for cheaper gas thanks to air quality improvements

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The price of gas in Louisville could drop if the city is allowed to switch from reformulated gas to conventional gas.

At a Speedway near Dixie Highway and the Watterson Expressway, a gallon of gas costs $2.89, but the price could be lower.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said he and Gov. Andy Beshear have written to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) asking for the city's reformulated gas requirement to be lifted.

Greenberg said the EPA was concerned with air quality in Louisville in the 1990s and enforced a rule requiring gas stations to sell reformulated gas. But that gas is more expensive.

“We believe that we are going to be in compliance, and now is the time to acknowledge the improvement in our air quality,” Greenberg said.

Currently, Louisville gas stations are required to sell reformulated gas, a cleaner-burning fuel mandated by the EPA. Reformulated gas is typically about 40 cents more expensive per gallon than conventional gas, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. For the week of Feb. 17, 2025, the national average for regular gas was $3.113 per gallon, while reformulated gas averaged $3.597 per gallon.

Greenberg said Louisville is now in a position to switch back to conventional gas because the city's air quality has improved.

“That's thanks to innovation and improvements by industry, the work of multiple community organizations, and federal, state, and Metro government programs all working together over the past 20 years to make our city healthier and our air cleaner,” Greenberg said.

Some residents support the move to conventional gas.

“Bring them down. Bring them down. Bring them down,” said Ronald Williams, expressing frustration over high gas prices.

Others, however, worry about potential environmental impacts.

“I’d rather stay like this and pay a little extra more,” said Vivian Jackson.

Ted Smith, a professor of environmental medicine at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, said the decision comes down to balancing financial and health concerns.

“We will always have these dynamics where we're pitting economic things against health things,” Smith said.

For now, drivers continue to feel the strain of high gas prices.

“It used to cost me $40 to fill up. Now it's $80,” said Stewart Kerr.

The mayor’s office has not provided a timeline for when the switch might happen, saying the decision is now in the hands of the EPA.

Related Stories: