Ethanol Blend Rate Increase Opposed By Groups
On Monday, an environmental group and a boating industry trade group announced that blending more than 10 percent ethanol into gasoline will result in damage to engines and more air pollution.
The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and the Environmental Working Group (EWG) believe evidence shows that a blend rate of up to 15 percent of ethanol in gasoline will be harmful.
The two groups are sending their findings to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which is accepting information until July 20.
The EPA will make a decision on the blend rate by December 1.
Currently, ethanol is approved up to a 10 percent blend in gasoline for cars and trucks.
Ethanol producers are pushing the government to allow higher blend levels.
This year, Congress is requiring 10.5 billion gallons of ethanol be blended into gasoline, with that number rising to 36 billion gallons by 2022.
"The science simply does not support Growth Energy’s position," said EWG’s Craig Cox, speaking about the ethanol group that asked the EPA for a higher ethanol blend rate. "The available science argues against it."
According to EWG, studies “do not demonstrate” that engines will meet emissions regulations if the ethanol blend rate is increased.
EWG also said that "E15 could damage vehicle emission control systems, decrease fuel economy, pose fire risks during transportation and retail, degrade water quality, worsen emissions of some air pollutants and escalate health risks for children and other vulnerable people."
Matthew Dunn, legislative director for the NMMA, said the request to increase the ethanol blend rate failed to factor in the impact on boat engines.
There are 17 million recreational boats in America, and most of them are not designed for higher blends, he said.
"There is incontrovertible evidence from numerous authoritative sources that ethanol blends exceeding 10 percent damage small non-road engines and pose risks to operator safety," said EWG.
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