EPA to decide on increase in ethanol use

The EPA will decide about gas standards later this year.

By Zach Mink

Published July 8, 2009

The EPA's decision on approving the use of E15 gasoline is gaining attention as summer gas prices have consumers paying more at the pump.

The vast majority of vehicles in the U.S. run on a 10 percent ethanol blend, but the ethanol industry is pushing to increase this blend to 15 percent.

In 2007, the Renewable Fuel Standard was implemented, which set a goal of raising the amount of ethanol blended into gasoline nationwide from 9 billion gallons in 2008 to 36 billion gallons by 2022.

American Coalition for Ethanol Executive Vice President Bryan Jennings said using ethanol is beneficial to the environment and ethanol blends at the 10 percent level have already shown decreases in harmful emissions.

"Using ethanol in gas last year helped clean up emissions to the equivalent analogy of taking 1 million cars straight off the road," Jennings said.

He said E15 gasoline could also help consumers at the pump.

"Generally, more ethanol reduces gas prices," Jennings said.

Some have speculated the introduction of E15 would require more corn to be grown on more land, but Jamey Cline, director of bio-fuels and business development at the National Corn Growers Association, which has its headquarters in Chesterfield, said this is not the case.

"We haven't increased the amount of land," Cline said. "We've actually been going down each year while setting records on crop growth size. We are increasing yield each year fast enough to more than cover the needs for ethanol."

According to a study by researchers from North Dakota State University, the acceptance of the E15 blend would also result in added money flowing into the economy. The study found increasing the blend to E15 would create almost 136,000 jobs and inject more than $25 billion into the economy.

Some are skeptical of the use of E15 in more cars across the country.

"You can't approve something until it has been cleared for most, if not all, of the combustion engines in cars that currently exist," said Ron Leone, Missouri Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association executive director. "I have not seen Ford, Toyota or Honda saying 'yes, we can burn E15 blends,' so they may be offering a product that the consumer can't use."

Only flex-fuel vehicles have been cleared to use ethanol blends more than 10 percent. Flex-fuel vehicles are approved to use blends up to E85.

Leone said the use of E15 also raises questions about who is responsible if a car designed for E10 use is given E15 fuel and develops a mechanical problem as a result.

If approved, Jennings said a higher blend of ethanol with gasoline would only be the first step toward compliance with the RFS.

But he said two things would need to happen in order for these new standards to be met.

"One, we get many more flex-fuel vehicles on the road," he said. "Second, if the first does not occur, you would see the industry approach the EPA again for a higher blend, something above E15."

The EPA will make its final decision on expanding the percentage of ethanol in gasoline by Dec. 1.