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EPA approves study on E15 health effects, emissions

By Growth Energy | February 17, 2012

The U.S. ethanol industry came one step closer today to seeing low-cost, renewable E15 sold into the American fuels marketplace with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s evaluation of the health effects of E15, as part of Growth Energy’s three-year-old petition to approve sale of the mid-level ethanol blend.

 “For three years Growth Energy has led the effort to clear the way for consumers to have access to affordable, renewable and cleaner-burning fuel. Now it is up to the retailers and individual fuel companies to register for approval to sell E15. With ethanol selling an average of 76 cents a gallon cheaper than gasoline and $4 a gallon gasoline on the horizon, we’d encourage all Americans to ask their local filling station how soon they will see more-affordable E15,” said Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy.

Growth Energy first filed its petition seeking federal approval to increase blends of ethanol in fuel from the current 10 percent (E10) to 15 percent (E15) in March 2009. After rigorous testing of E15’s impact on engine durability and auto emissions systems, EPA approved E15 for voluntary use in all autos and light trucks built since 2001 – which today is more than 70 percent of all vehicles on the road. Growth Energy completed a host of other ensuing regulatory measures, including significant analysis and development of data and literature on the emissions and health effects of E15, which EPA approved today.

“This is a remarkable achievement by America’s clean, renewable fuels industry as moving to E15 results in reduced dependence on foreign oil, jobs here in America and consumer savings at the pump,” Buis said. “Growth Energy commits right now to the American public that we will work with the retail industry to bring E15 to their stations. Now with a clear path forward toward a federally-approved, lower-cost fuel blend available as an antidote to the record gasoline prices we’re told to expect, we are encouraged that retailers will move quickly.”

(Editor's note: Watch for more converage next week on the reaction to, and implications of EPA's approval of the emissions/health effects study.)

 

5 Responses

  1. Jim Farish

    2012-02-18

    1

    Seems like very good news to me. The consumer will get to choose to support lower emissions with renewable energy.

  2. Gary

    2012-02-21

    2

    So the us taxpayer is paying ethanol industry a subsidy and then they ship the ethanol out of the country to Brazil. Now if that doesn't make one hell of a lot sense.....you stupid jerks. The ethanol is totally mismanaged since they don't have to be responsible because the taxpayer will pick up the tab. Let the industry go under....

  3. Jack

    2012-02-21

    3

    Gary, the ethanol industry does not receive a government subsidy; the taxpayer is not picking up a tab. The ethanol industry is exporting ethanol because other countries see the value in this clean, renewable fuel. Please submit a retraction. Thanks.

  4. Lee

    2012-02-21

    4

    Gary, Jack is right. Ethanol was developed to replace carcinogenic MTBE. The subsidy was never paid to the Ethanol plants, but to the oil blenders - oil companies - to get them to use it. It is gone as of the first of the year. Not sure if the oil companies exporting ethanol ot Brazil got a blenders credit last year - might have been a loophole. Scary is that the Congress cancelled the import tariff for Brazilian Ethanol. They have huge cost advantage if they get enough to ship here because they don't have the enzime cost for cane that we do for corn based. Corn based ethanol. Corn based eth. will be limited shortly and the mandate growth will be cellulosic or 3rd gen - other feedstocks. Level playing field. If you want to pay for imported arab oil, go ahead. I would prefer an even better choice with options at a blender pump for up to E-85. If you saw the news this morning everything goes up (crops and food) when oil goes up. I agree with Jack. Retract.

  5. dsl987

    2012-02-27

    5

    And how many blender pumps have been installed? I've never seen one, and I travel more than the average guy. Without blender pumps we will have the choice of E15 or nothing, just like we do now with E10 or nothing. They should promote E85 more, than push E15 down our throats for engines that were never designed for it.

    6.  

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