News
‘A bold move forward’ for ethanol
Reacting to the EPA’s approval of 15 percent ethanol-blended gasoline for 2001-2006 model vehicles, Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis calls it “a bold move forward.
“The decision last year for 2007 and newer vehicles was a crack in that blend wall,” Buis says. “Today’s decision knocks a bigger hole in that wall—and we’re not going to give up until we completely tear down that wall.”
The head of the Renewable Fuels Association welcomes the EPA’s announcement–but Bob Dinneen still has concerns about confusion in the marketplace.
“While EPA’s decision today is a sound one, it doesn’t address the issues that still remain regarding a segmented marketplace in the introduction of a new fuel,” says Dinneen.
Dinneen says 2001 may be as far as EPA will go, but RFA believes E15 is safe for older vehicles. Despite those concerns, Dineen says he would expect E15 to start showing up in some states later this year.
“I think in certain states where there aren’t as many regulatory barriers, you might begin to see E15 being sold commercially—oh, I don’t know, I hate to speculate, but—3rd or 4th quarter this year,” Dinneen says. “I think you’ll see it in 2011, on a limited basis—but clearly, there are going to be some marketers that are going to want to give consumers this important choice.”
Tags: E15, EPA, Ethanol, Growth Energy, RFA
Can’t wait to see E15 here in California. This is a big move for renewable fuels! The country may not know we need it but I am glad to see leadership stepping up.