Lawmakers back hiking ethanol-gas blends

PEORIA —A bipartisan coalition of members of Congress questions the Environmental Protection Agency's recent decision to delay increasing the ethanol blend wall in gasoline from 10 percent to 15 percent.

U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Peoria, along with six of his colleagues sent a letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson this week. Their letter said the EPA's decision inhibits their ability to improve the quality of fuels and help the nation realize energy independence.

"There has been no evidence to demonstrate that the switch to the E-l5 blend will cause damage to vehicles, regardless of the vintage. Further, changing to a higher-level ethanol blend has the potential to create an additional 136,000 U.S. jobs while also cutting greenhouse gases," Schock said.

Higher ethanol blends would reduce the U.S. dependence on foreign oil, increase the price farmers get for their crops and reduce the price of gasoline, Schock said.

Eventually, Schock said, he hopes the blend will increase to 20 percent.

David Sykuta, executive director of the Illinois Petroleum Council, believes the ethanol blend eventually will increase, but he also said there are many industry stakeholders to be considered.

The goal, he said, should be to have as few blends to avoid the "logistical nightmare" that accompanies stocking various blends at the pumps.

"We're not against increasing the blend, if all of the appropriate studies have been done," Sykuta said. "There are differences between what works in test tube and what works in the real world."

Schock said the Auto Manufacturers Association has signed off on the measure, saying it wouldn't have negative impact on vehicles.

"Increasing the blend from 10 to 15 percent is a net gain of 50 percent in the increase in the use of ethanol nationwide at a time when this sector of our economy needs the certainty, when we're trying to incentivize entrepreneurs to present a next generation of biofuels..." Schock said. "Increasing the amount of biofuel by 50 percent in every automobile will have a dramatic effect on demand for biofuels. This will be a real boon for Illinois agriculture."

Others who signed the letter are: Debbie Halvorson, D-Crete; Tim Johnson, R-Urbana; Phil Hare, D-Rock Island; John Shimkus, R-Collinsville; Bill Foster, D-Batavia; and Jerry Costello, D-Belleville.

"By increasing the ethanol blend wall for vehicles, we can create green jobs, increase agricultural output and ensure cleaner air for all Americans. I am happy to join my colleagues in the Illinois delegation in urging the EPA to make this happen as soon as possible," Hare said.

source: pjstar