EPA gives E15 go-ahead despite objections, approves production applications

Sebastian Blanco — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 17:29:00 EST

As predicted and expected, the Environmental Protection Agency today approved the first applications to make E15, a blend of gasoline with 15 percent ethanol in it. This means that E15 is now a "significant step" closer to production and sale in America.

For decades, gasoline in the U.S. has had up to 10 percent ethanol in it, but the extra five points were enough to generate resistance. The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute and the Science Committee in the House of Representatives both took steps to prevent E15 from entering the national supply. Even the EPA admits not every vehicle should use the new blend, saying it is approved only for Model Year 2001 vehicles and newer.

Many automakers have been hesitant about E15, fearing fuel system and engine damage, so a number of them joined a lawsuit against it in 2010 through the Auto Alliance. Some have even gone so far as to say that any older vehicles that use E15 will have their warranties voided. The EPA's rules say that any pump dispensing E15 must be clearly labeled. The EPA is not requiring any station to sell E15 in any way, but the Obama Administration does want to encourage its use, and thus wants to help get 10,000 blender pumps installed in the U.S. over the next 5 years.

In late 2011, the U.S. Congress ended a 30-year tax subsidy on corn-based ethanol while also stopping tariffs on ethanol imported from Brazil. Since 1980, the ethanol industry has received an estimated $45 billion in subsidies. Check out the official EPA press release for further details after the jump.

Continue reading EPA gives E15 go-ahead despite objections, approves production applications

EPA gives E15 go-ahead despite objections, approves production applications originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Apr 2012 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

E15 not coming to gas stations anytime soon

Autoblog Staff — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 07:58:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal

With the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officially issuing its finalized E15 (gasoline with 15-percent ethanol content) warning label, there's widespread belief that the recently approved biofuel will be coming to gasoline stations soon. Well, it seems that's not likely to be the case. In fact, it won't take place for at least a year.

The Government Accountability Office says that health, safety, cost and environmental concerns will probably keep E15 away from the pumps for more than one year. The GOA claims that nozzles, underground storage tanks and other fuel-dispensing equipment will need to be evaluated prior to E15's arrival. The concern is that leakage, which isn't an issue with E10, could suddenly become a problem with E15.

The GAO continues by claiming that some fuel stations may have to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to upgrade equipment in preparation for the arrival of E15. There is also the matter of an ongoing lawsuit that sees automakers trying to overturn the EPA's approval of the blended fuel along with a promise to void the warranties of vehicles with E15 found in their tanks. We'd guess E15 has a very long road ahead of it...

E15 not coming to gas stations anytime soon originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Jul 2011 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments