Plans to increase ethanol content in gas met with opposition

July 21st, 2009 by Jeff Kart

You’d think this would be a “Buy American” type of issue. Growth Energy, an ethanol industry trade group, wants to raise the content in gasoline from 10 percent to 15 percent in the United States.

The ethanol industry, of course, is firmly behind the proposal, made to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Ethanol plant operators say a boost would bring jobs and investment on U.S. soil.

And even some government leaders, like Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, have expressed support for at least a “baby step” increase to 12 or 13 percent.

But other folks, seizing on the fact that most U.S. ethanol is made with corn, are telling the EPA to put the brakes on the plan.

Just today, the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers filed comments with the EPA in opposition to Growth Energy’s “waiver request.” (.pdf)

The association is concerned about harm to conventional vehicles not designed to operate on higher blends of ethanol and harm to the planet from increased carbon emissions.

Is ethanol headed for the hay heep, with these and other concerns over the fuel’s connection to higher food prices?

At this rate, will cellulosic ethanol, from non-food plant materials, ever get off the ground?

Image Credit: ammocacher, via photobucket.

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Tags: corn, EPA, Ethanol

About the Author

Jeff Kart is typing about issues in the Great Lakes, from advanced biofuels to zero-emission vehicles. Jeff is an environmental journalist and social media evangelist based in Michigan, where the summers are short, the winters are cold, and the stories are plentiful.

BUTTERNUT

Does anyone find it funny that when O’bama announced higher CAFE standards (average MPG vehicles must meet) most of the auto industry applauded it? these are the same people who fought putting seat belts in cars. The reason is that our government is in lock step with their handlers (lobbyists). Automakers have a loophole from which to pass through which is known as “flex fuel vehicles” what the government has decreed in their simple minds is that E85 capable vehicles MPG is given credit for only the 15% gasoline contained in E85. Therefore a Hummer that is rated at 11 mpg that is E85 capable (regardless of whether they use it or not) is rated on the amount of gasoline (15%) used to travel the 10 miles. To reach the multiplier you divide 100% E85 by 15 (gasoline) and you get a multiplier of 6.66% (Ironic eh?) so that gas guzzler is shown as getting 67 mpg allowing the automakers to pretend fuel efficency.
BUTTERNUT

Does anyone find it funny that when O’bama announced higher CAFE standards (average MPG vehicles must meet) most of the auto industry applauded it? these are the same people who fought putting seat belts in cars. The reason is that our government is in lock step with their handlers (lobbyists). Automakers have a loophole from which to pass through which is known as “flex fuel vehicles” what the government has decreed in their simple minds is that E85 capable vehicles MPG is given credit for only the 15% gasoline contained in E85. Therefore a Hummer that is rated at 11 mpg that is E85 capable (regardless of whether they use it or not) is rated on the amount of gasoline (15%) used to travel the 10 miles. To reach the multiplier you divide 100% E85 by 15 (gasoline) and you get a multiplier of 6.66% (Ironic eh?) so that gas guzzler is shown as getting 67 mpg allowing the automakers to pretend fuel efficency.
Spanky1

This is absurd. When I use 10% ethanol, my mileage drops by about 10%.

Ethanol subsidies and mandates should be discontinued.

Ethanol harms the planet: Using it produces MORE in greenhouse gases than does gasoline.
Spanky1

This is absurd. When I use 10% ethanol, my mileage drops by about 10%.

Ethanol subsidies and mandates should be discontinued.

Ethanol harms the planet: Using it produces MORE in greenhouse gases than does gasoline.
Spanky1

This is absurd. When I use 10% ethanol, my mileage drops by about 10%.

Ethanol subsidies and mandates should be discontinued.

Ethanol harms the planet: Using it produces MORE in greenhouse gases than does gasoline.