Ethanol and Corn Groups Call for Increase to E12
Three major farmer and ethanol groups today called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to formally approve the use of E12 (12% ethanol) in the nation’s gasoline supply.
The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) sent a joint letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson saying, “based on the EPA’s delay in acting upon the full E15 waiver and on our concerns that the Agency will restrict the use of E15 to cars made in 2001 and thereafter, we encourage the EPA to formally approve the use of E12 for all motor vehicles as an immediate interim step pending any ongoing additional testing on E15.”
The groups pointed to President Obama’s stated goal of reducing reliance on oil imports and reiterated that expanded use of domestically produced ethanol will help accomplish that goal. According to the letter, “Decreasing dependence on foreign oil is a key to this country’s environmental, energy and security policy, and the EPA must provide a practical and workable solution to the ethanol blend wall issue and do so soon. Allowing E12 for all motor vehicles as an interim step to a full waiver for E15 is a reasonable and defensible first step to solve the immediate problem.”
The groups’ letter reviewed previous EPA findings, policy positions and research to demonstrate the reasonableness of approving E12 for use in the nation’s automobile and light truck fleet. “The EPA has a clear basis and the authority to approve E12. While we think delay on E15 is unnecessary and will slow progress on expanding the use of ethanol, we all agree that approval of E12 is a vital interim step that EPA can and should take,” the groups wrote. All three groups remain fully committed to efforts to approve the use of E15 for all vehicles.
3 Comments »
carfriendly
The biggest issue with approval of E12 or E15, as I see it, is whether retail stations will actually sell it. If any vehicles are excluded, the risk to a retailer is over loss of business and damage to an older vehicle even if the sign says what vehicles are OK to use it.
Truck load racks can probably make the change to 12% addition but may have to invest money to upgrade to 15%. Also limiting at the truck rack level will be the ability to sell more than one grade of ethanol blend should the retail locations served by that truck rack may not all request 12% of 15%.
A move in the States is to require truck racks to sell both blended and unblended gasoline. There are areas of the country where there is a backlash against ethanol blending due to the impact on mileage and the perceived risks to their vehicles and many types of small, sport and boat engines.
So, even though an approval may come, the fuel supply industry may never take it up beyond the current 10%.
Bill Tormohlen
As far as the risk of damage to older vehicles, why can’t the ethanol industry ease everyone’s concerns by saying they will be liable for any damage? If Growth Energy and RFA say they will be accountable, that should make everyone feel better. And what would GE and RFA have to lose? They say the higher blend will not cause any damage. If they really believe that, why not back it with a commitment? That would help ease the way for E12 and E15.
Ethanol industry finds voice on E12 | Automotive
[...] Domestic Fuel | Image: r-z – C.C. handcuff [...]
Comments RSS feed — TrackBack URI
Leave a Comment