WASHINGTON, May 5 -- The Auto Alliance, the American Petroleum Institute and the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute urged EPA to delay action on the agency's proposal to allow higher levels of ethanol in gasoline. Higher levels of ethanol have not been proven safe or effective according to industry projections based on preliminary results of testing introduced today at a meeting of the Mid-Level Ethanol Blends Research Coordination Group.
Dave McCurdy, president and CEO of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers; Jack Gerard, president and CEO of the American Petroleum Institute; and Kris Kiser, executive vice-president of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute issued the following statement: "As the EPA proceeds with important decisions about ethanol and biofuel blend rates, it is imperative that those decisions be made with the end user market in mind. These decisions will have real world impacts and we urge the EPA to refrain from setting a premature deadline that ignores reliable, scientific data about the effects of higher ethanol blends on emissions, durability and consumer safety. We remain committed to finding the right market solutions for renewable fuels and look forward to continuing our work with the EPA on this matter."
In addition to government funds, the auto and oil industries have spent more than $6 million over the last two years testing engine performance and durability of higher ethanol fuels, as well as testing storage and dispensing of fuels with 15 percent ethanol (E15). Currently, fuels are allowed by EPA to contain only up to 10 percent ethanol (E10).
Approval of E15 should wait until testing is complete. This testing looks at the potential for vehicle engine and fuel system component damage when operating on this fuel blend. "The impacts of higher ethanol blends will fall on consumers, who will be ill-prepared to determine the right fuel for their car, lawn equipment, boat or motorcycle," said Al Jessel, senior fuels policy advisor for Chevron. "EPA should delay changing the gasoline mix in this country until research into all aspects of vehicle and engine performance is complete."
"Testing for engine and vehicle compatibility and environmental issues is scheduled for completion in 2011," said Coleman Jones, biofuel implementation manager for General Motors. "There's no need for precipitous action when the scientific results are so close at hand."
No comments:
Post a Comment