A Movement For Even More Ethanol Use

The US Environmental Protection Agency has proposed increasing the maximum amount of ethanol blended in gasoline from 10% (E10) to 15% (E15). An ethanol industry group called Growth Energy and 54 ethanol makers back this increase.  This begs a legitimate question for the rest of us.  Should anyone else back any increase in the use of ethanol?

The Clean Air Act prohibits a manufacturer of fuel or fuel additives from introducing certain fuels and additives that could damage existing cars without first seeking a waiver from the EPA. The waiver could be granted if the manufacturers can prove their additive will do no harm.

The proposed rule would not mandate E15, but would permit its manufacture and use. There is no conclusive evidence that E15 would damage a car’s engine or emissions control systems, but there is some evidence that the higher concentration of ethanol would damage small engines such as those on boats and lawn mowers.

A bigger potential problem for ethanol makers is that most car warranties are voided if more than 10% ethanol is used. Sure it would possible to offer both E10 and E15 at a single filling station, but the opportunity for pumping the wrong fuel goes way up. If the EPA approves E15, will filling stations need to create a third size of fuel filling nozzle to prevent the wrong ethanol blend from being used?

If ethanol offered more than just a boost to corn growers and ethanol manufacturers, then increasing the amoung of ethanol in a blended fuel might be worth the cost and trouble. But ethanol, particularly corn-based ethanol, adds cost to automobile fuel without significantly reducing overall CO2 emissions.

Paul Ausick
May 12, 2009