The Environmental Protection Agency last week cleared the way for gasoline to be blended with up to 15 percent ethanol ”“ a formulation that will make certain engines sputter and stall.
It’s a decision that has raised opposition across the political spectrum. Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, and Sen. James Inhofe, R-Oklahoma, have raised concern about the limited availability of pure gasoline. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, objected that the new blend is unsuitable for many engines.
“Many Mainers are skeptical of ethanol, and for good reason,” Pingree said. “Many of our cars and small engines can’t burn it safely, it takes an enormous amount of fossil fuel to produce, and it costs us billions of dollars in federal subsidies every year.”
The EPA acknowledges that the 15 percent ethanol blend is not suitable for small engines or vehicles built before 2001, but says it is not mandating its use. Replying to Snowe’s objections, an EPA official said that the new waiver “allows but does not require E15 to be sold.”
The agency also said appropriate labeling of pumps will be required, and noted that the waiver is consistent with the goal of making increased use of renewable fuels.
Supporters of the waiver claim that it will support U.S. farming while reducing U.S. dependence on foreign oil. Congress has required refineries to produce 36 billion gallons of biofuels by 2022.
Ethanol may be a renewable resource, but its use is criticized by many environmentalists because it is derived from corn and other grains that require considerable energy and fertilizer to harvest and refine. It’s a popular product in the farm belt because it ensures a high demand for corn.
Ethanol is not as good a fuel as gasoline; it burns hotter, while putting out less power. And since it is a form of alcohol, it can carry suspended water into an engine, leading to misfiring and rust. In two-stroke engines its affinity for water can disperse the oil mixed with the fuel, leading to insufficient lubrication.
The labeling rules for E15 gasoline have not yet been published, and it is not clear how attractive this formulation will be to the marketplace. But anyone who drives an old car or fills up a lawnmower or chainsaw should keep an eye on service station pumps to make sure of getting the right fuel.
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Questions? Comments? Contact Managing Editor Nick Cowenhoven at nickc@journaltribune.com.
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