March 2011 Articles

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E15 for 2007 and Newer Vehicles Benefits America

E15 for 2007 and Newer Vehicles Benefits America Source: www.fb.org WASHINGTON, D.C., October 13, 2010 – The Environmental Protection Agency’s approval of E15 (gasoline blended with up to 15 percent ethanol) for model year 2007 and newer cars and light-duty trucks is a step toward strengthening America’s commitment to home-grown energy, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. “Ethanol is a clean-burning, home-grown renewable fuel. Increasing the percentage of ethanol in the domestic gasoline supply moves our nation one step closer to greater energy independence,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman. “It also promotes job creation in rural America.” The decision announced by EPA today applies to 43 million vehicles or about 20 percent of the current U.S. duty fleet. A second decision by EPA on the use of E15 (for model year 2001 to 2006 cars and light-duty trucks) will be made after additional Department of Energy testing is completed toward the end of the year. A total of 86 million cars/light-duty trucks or about 54 percent of all vehicles on the road today are model year 2001 to 2006. In March 2009, Growth Energy and 54 ethanol manufacturers filed a petition with EPA urging an increase in the cap on the ethanol blend rate from 10 percent to 15 percent. Farm Bureau and a diverse coalition of renewable energy supporters joined the group in pressing government officials to do everything in their power to expedite the approval process for E15. “EPA must now follow up on this first effort to reaffirm America’s commitment to biofuels,” Stallman said. EPA’s announcement allows states to begin working on adjusting state fuel regulations to allow the sale and distribution of E15. The primary source of ethanol is corn, but other grains or biomass sources may be used including sorghum, corn cobs, cornstalks and switchgrass.