Trouble for ethanol: House panel questions EPA

Leaders of a powerful House committee are raising concerns with the Obama administration about its move to raise the limit on the amount of ethanol that can be added to gasoline.

In a seven-page letter today to the Environmental Protection Agency, top Democrats and Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee asked a series of questions as to whether increased ethanol content would damage engines or increase air pollution.

The current limit is 10 percent. Ethanol producers want the EPA to raise that to 15 percent, producing a blend known as E15. The agency has said it is considering allowing E15 to be used only in newer vehicles but has put off making a decision until at least this fall while additional engine studies are completed.

The lawmakers said that approving E15 for use in some cars but not others could result in consumers damaging vehicles for which the fuel is not intended

“Allowing the sale of renewable fuel in a way what damages equipment, shortens its life, or requires costly repairs will likely cause a backlash against renewable fuels,” the lawmakers wrote. “It could also seriously undermine the agency’s credibility in addressing fuel and engine issues in the future.”

The letter was signed by the committee’s full chairman, Henry Waxman, D-Calif., and top Republican, Rep. Joe Barton, D-Texas, as well as the chairman and senior GOP member of the subcommittee on energy and environment, Edward Markey, D-Mass., and Fred Upton, R-Mich., respectively.

Growth Energy, the ethanol trade group that petitioned the EPA to raise the ethanol limit, issued a statement saying “we have confidence that all of the concerns can be addressed to moving to higher blends of ethanol.” A rival group, the Renewable Fuels Association, is urging EPA to consider an interim step, E12. The group argues that E12 is essentially the same as the existing blend and shouldn’t be limited to newer vehicles.

The lone Iowan on the committee, Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Ia., said that he disagreed with the letter and that there is already “sufficient information available to move forward” with E15.

The 10-percent limit has become an increasing concern to the industry has production has increased to keep up with federal usage mandates and companies seek financing for new ethanol projects.

The 10-percent cap does not apply to so-called flexible-fuel cars and trucks that are equipped to run on ethanol.

source: blogs.desmoinesregister