Ethanol backers and critics find fault with EPA E-15 decision

Supporters and critics of expanded ethanol use both found fault with the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision Wednesday to allow for a higher ethanol blend in gasoline for vehicles as old as model year 2007, while punting for now on allowing it for older vehicles.
 
Ethanol backers said the decision to allow use of E-15 — consisting of 15 percent ethanol and 85 percent gasoline — in newer vehicles is a good initial step. Some supporters, however, fear the decision not to include older vehicles yet could do more harm than good by potentially splitting the vehicle marketplace for the higher fuel blend.
 
“We believe this bifurcation of the approval process, and the labels that are expected to be placed on higher-blend fuel pumps, can lead to general consumer confusion and therefore act counter to the original intent,” said National Corn Growers Association President Bart Schott. “By proceeding along this path, EPA’s decision casts an unnecessary shadow on all ethanol blend levels.”
 
“While I’m glad to see that at long last the EPA has finally made a decision, I am frustrated that the EPA is approving E15 only for vehicles that are model year 2007 and newer,” Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) said. “The announcement unnecessarily complicates the fuel-supply chain and undermines real progress that a waiver for all vehicles would have provided to America’s domestic renewable fuel producers.”  
 
Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) also said EPA’s decision does not go far enough. “The EPA should immediately act to extend the partial waiver to more vehicles to boost the ethanol market, creating jobs and opportunity in rural America,” he said.
 
Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis — whose organization led a 2009 petition to EPA to allow for E-15 use in the marketplace — called it “an historic first step,” and said the group is viewing the decision as a “glass half full” rather than half empty.

“While some will portray this partial E15 waiver as a major victory and others will suggest it is completely unworkable, the truth lies somewhere in between," said American Coalition for Ethanol Executive Vice President Brian Jennings. “ACE views it as a very small first step and we will work to try and make the best of it.” 

Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-S.D.) said it was a “long overdue but welcome decision.” She said “equally critical” is her expectation that EPA later this year will approve E-15 for model years 2001 through 2006.
 
Herseth Sandlin and Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.) led a bipartisan coalition of House members in pushing for the approval of a higher ethanol blend. EPA will not make a decision on model years 2001 through 2006 until Energy Department testing is completed in November and may not do further testing at all on vehicles model year 2000 or older.
 
Another leading ethanol advocate in Congress — Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) —  added that he will “remain hopeful” that the Obama administration will finish testing soon and announce a decision on model years 2001 through 2006 “as well as reconsider its unfortunate decision to deny the waiver for vehicles older than 2000.”
 
Critics and skeptics of increasing the ethanol blend in gasoline weighed in as well.
 
The National Automobile Dealers Association issued a statement citing concern about the “backward compatibility” of the new E-15 blend, or “the degree to which E-15 might damage older cars and trucks when it is mistakenly pumped into them.”
 
“The main issue for dealers and their service departments is the possibility of misdiagnosis and repair of vehicles resulting from the use of the wrong fuel,” the group added in its statement.
 
“The Environmental Protection Agency today abdicated its responsibility to safeguard our nation’s public health and environment and became the Ethanol Promotion Agency,” said Gregory Scott, executive vice president and general counsel of the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association. “EPA is asking the American people to pump first and ask questions later, and to become guinea pigs in a giant science experiment that involves their vehicles, their gasoline-powered equipment, and their safety.”
 
“The EPA’s decision is premature and irresponsible,” Friends of the Earth’s Kate McMahon said. “While today’s ruling limits E15 to use in newer engines for the time being, the agency has yet to conclude comprehensive scientific testing on the long-term engine safety and pollution impacts of increased ethanol in gasoline — period.”