Posted on 03/12/2019 6:09:24 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
The Environmental Protection Agency rolled out a plan to allow more ethanol in the nation's gasoline supply Tuesday, after a long wait that had Cabinet officials sparring over the timing of the plan.
“Consistent with President Trump’s direction, EPA is working to propose and finalize these changes by the summer driving season,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler.
The proposed regulations would allow 15-percent ethanol fuels to be sold year-round, including in the summer. The high-ethanol fuel is currently banned by the EPA for sale during the summer driving season, which begins June 1, because of its high fuel volatility rating, which can hurt engine performance and can contribute to smog, especially during summer.
Trump promised the rule change last year to Iowa farmers and corn ethanol producers as part of a grand bargain with oil refiners. The deal is meant to resolve problems with the nation's Renewable Fuel Standard program, requiring ethanol and other biofuels to be blended at increasing amounts each year.
Wheeler wants to gather feedback swiftly on the rule to get it into effect by Memorial Day. He said he will hold a public hearing at the end of the month to begin the process.
The proposed action announced on Tuesday would also help reduce the cost for refiners in complying with the EPA's renewable fuel program, which costs individual refiners hundreds of millions of dollars annually to meet the requirements to blend ethanol in the nation's gasoline supply.
The EPA's proposed action will modify how the credits that refiners must use to meet EPA ethanol targets are bought and sold in order to deter price manipulation.
Ethanol credit prices have experienced major fluctuations in recent years from pennies to more than a dollar in a short period of time, leading to refiners paying more each year...
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonexaminer.com ...
Keep the government out of my doctors office and my gas tank.
Buying votes in the corn belt.
This does not MAGA. It’s corruption.
15 % of ten gallons is 1.5 gallons.
How about I get 8.5 gallons of gas, and a separate 1.5 gallons of ethanol.
And drink up that 1.5 gallons while I burn the other 8.5.
Will save damage to the engine and environment.
May be some other consequences.
Further analysis invited.
Great lets ruin more cars
Engine performance and fuel economy be damned.
Should be reduced to zero percent. Big give away with no value for drivers
More knock per block!
I don’t think it’s a bad idea. It looks like the EPA is allowing — not requiring — states to use consistent ethanol blends through the entire year. This eliminates the short-term disruptions in the supply chain when refineries have to change their fuel mixtures twice every year.
Oh no. Thought we were going to get rid of that cr*p.
“The proposed regulations WOULD allow 15-percent ethanol fuels to be sold...”
BUT is it a demand that they do so? Most pumps these days have everything from 15% ethanol to diesel. Perhaps it’s “rose colored glasses” but this might get rid enough of the crazy credit scheme so consumers could choose high ethanol blends (some engines are fine with that) OR blends with NO ethanol. And the refineries wouldn’t have to retool each season. Next we need to get rid of summer vs. winter blends.
not good. my car already hates it.
President Trump needs a vacation. All the vicious attacks and special interests are starting to get to him. A tanned, rested, and ready President Trump wouldn't even have considered this.
Next time a FRreeper drives through an "ethanol" state (Iowa or Kansas for example), take notice of the all the gas stations selling NO ETHANOL PURE GAS. One ubiquitous chain is famous for this, Casey's General Store. Apparently what's good for thee is not good for me.
Idiotic.
Vehicles are not set to take extra ethanol well. Less mileage and more heat generation.
Plus it will pollute the groundwater worse. Gas plus ethanol polutes water worse than just pure gas.
I buy high octane premium gas for my outboard motor, lawn mower, etc.
The current spread over blended gas is $.50/gallon.
JaVanka ?
Thx, President Trump. I love paying $20 a gallon for SEF that doesn’t require me to deglaze my lawnmowers every spring, or just end up having to buy a new one out of frustration.
> This does not MAGA. It’s corruption. <
Right. We’d all be better off if ethanol were removed from gasoline, and the farmers were bribed directly.
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