Let's see how long it takes any of these fine humans to mention the wasteful practice of turning people food into automobile fuel...
EPA decision to allow more ethanol gets mixed reviews - Winona Daily News
The ethanol industry has won another round in its fight to put more of the corn-based bio-fuel into gasoline. The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday cleared use of 15 percent ethanol/gas blends for all vehicles made between 2001 and 2006.
But there's still a lot of opposition to "E15," as it's known.
Ethanol industry officials have been trying for almost two years to push E15 to the marketplace. Last October, the EPA approved the 15 percent blend for vehicles made in 2007 and later.
The agency's latest decision allows the fuel to be used in vehicles manufactured in 2001 or later, and is a significant step forward in boosting ethanol use, said Brian Jennings, executive vice president of the American Coalition for Ethanol.
"We're really pleased that EPA finally came forth with a decision regarding E15, that indicates a majority of the cars on the road can use the product," Jennings said.
That's about 150 million vehicles. But Jennings acknowledges there are still many hurdles to clear before E15 shows up at gas stations.
Several groups have sued to block sale of the fuel. They include some financially powerful organizations tied to the oil industry, such as the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association. It contends the EPA's testing of E15 has not been extensive enough to prove the 15 percent blend is safe for car and truck engines.
Another issue is how E15 will be labeled at the pump. The EPA has proposed a label which starts with the word ‘caution' followed by an exclamation point. Ethanol industry officials say that wording would scare consumers away from using the new ethanol blend.
Jennings expects the legal and labeling issues to be resolved. That would allow E15 to appear in the marketplace before year's end.
"I think it would be October of this year perhaps at the soonest," he said.
When E15 does reach the marketplace, it's unknown how many gas stations will decide to sell it.
Jeff Lenard, a spokesman for the National Association of Convenience Stores, which represents about 50,000 U.S. gasoline sellers, said many now sell 10 percent ethanol. He said stores will have to install new pumps, at $20,000 each, to handle the 15 percent blend.
Lenard said about 60 percent of the convenience stores in the U.S. are owned by individuals with limited financing. He doubts many will want to risk the money it will take to sell E15.
"It's probably well beyond their resources," Lenard said. "So you're looking at a fairly limited audience for the concept of selling E15 down the road."
Even with the hurdles though, ethanol supporters say the EPA's E15 decision is beneficial. Last year, the industry produced about 13 billion gallons of the fuel, consuming more than a third of the nation's corn crop.
By allowing more ethanol per gallon of fuel, the E15 decision will boost production and sales of ethanol, leaving the industry with another potential headache, supporters say.
With food prices already on the rise, more ethanol production could reignite complaints that the industry's demand for corn is fueling inflation.
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