EPA Considering Raising Ethanol Limit To 15%
Here’s the story from the Des Moines Register:
The Environmental Protection Agency will seek public comment for 30 days on a petition by the ethanol industry to raise the limit on ethanol in gasoline to 15 percent.
The agency specifically wants comment on its idea of providing a partial waiver of the E10 limit so that higher blends could be sold only for newer vehicles, a proposal that’s been roundly criticized.
The agency says “the issue of misfueling would be challenging in a situation where a conditional waiver is granted” and wants comments on the need for restrictions.
The agency also is seeking comments and data on whether there is “an appropriate level of scientific and technical information” to tell whether E15 will harm emission control devices on cars and power equipment.
The limit has been at ten volume percent ethanol (E10) for conventional (non flex-fuel) vehicles since 1978. The “issue of misfueling” referenced in the article refers to the likelihood that many vehicles would run poorly on E15 fuel. Most engines are simply not designed to handle that much ethanol.
The EPA has until Dec. 1 to make a decision and is requesting comments from the public. You can find the full EPA notice here.
A poster in the forums at VWVortex has organized the information you need to comment on this proposal below:
Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ– OAR–2009–0211, by one of the following methods:
Web:
http://www.regulations.gov/
Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments.
E-mail:
a-and-r-docket@epa.gov
Fax:
(202) 566–1741
Mail:
Air and Radiation Docket
Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2009– 0211
Environmental Protection Agency
Mailcode: 6102T
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20460.
Please include a total of two copies.
Hand Delivery:
EPA Docket Center
Public Reading Room
EPA West Building
Room 3334
1301 Constitution Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20460
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[...] Re: Chad's gonna love this, new Ethanol mandate Correct link is here: EPA Considering Raising Ethanol Limit To 15% [...]
Perhaps late model cars can handle this, but my 2007 Buell motorcycle manual specifically says not to to use any fuel with greather than 10% ethanol content.
What will this do to my engine?!?!?
Frankly, there are always some people that ‘think’ their program should be bought by everyone without question. There is NO proof of any damage that gasoliine does to either the earth or the atmosphere. Someone has come up with another way to push their own agenda – without ANY proof, only conjecture – and have this drive that everyone ought to turn from their own error and believe the false imaginations of a few. There are more scientists disprove any damage to any part of our Universe than there are (the few imbeciles) who ‘think’ they can prove otherwise. Leave our world system alone and let’s get along with a good old system of a Democratic Republic, drill for oil, quit taxing small businesses – and big ones, for that matter. Quit bellyaching, you defeatists and let our Country alone to be what it really is: The best Country in the whole wide world. Besides, what gives you the idea that you’re ‘big enough’ to ruin ANYTHING that God has blessed – and created…and quit listening to that horrible open, festering wound – isn’t that a GORE?
Thanks for your “ear”…I pray your goal not only fails, but that our People will awaken and find out that we do not need more ‘subsidized products’. We already pay more toward ethanol than it is worth – that’s before it hits the pump.
For the record, I personally like most of the comments I’ve seen already!!
Thanks!
dj
The only problem with this is with older cars the late model cars can handle up to 25% ethanol.
[...] very short time only and there is only a small window of opportunity for us to voice our opinions. EPA Considering Raising Ethanol Limit To 15% The EPA has until Dec. 1 to make a decision and is requesting comments from the public. You can [...]
I would like to protest this 15% ethonal in ALL gasoline.
Me and many othes owning motorcycles etc.,need petro fuel to keep our engines running properly with the recommended fuels
Forgive me please, but what are you thinking? Ethanol as motor fuel makes no sense whatever. It uses fossil fuel to produce, is expensive to transport and produces fewer BTUs than motor gasoline. What would be gained by increasing the amount of ethanol from grain in motor fuel?
“What would be gained by increasing the amount of ethanol from grain in motor fuel?”
As near as I can tell the gain would be an increased number of votes for politicians from corn-producing areas.
What is the point?, is the government trying to get us to use more ethanol?
I’d be for E15, if E85 was reduced to E70-no more winter/summer variation
and
there was a way to opt out.
If a pump was going to offer E15, 87 R+M /2 regular fuel; then said pump should offer 5% ethanol 93 R+M /2 gasoline.
and mid-grade should be E10, 90 R+M /2