The Case for E12
Posted: July 27, 2009
The comment period for the proposal to allow up to 15 percent ethanol blends in regular gasoline ended last week, now the EPA has until December 1 to make a final decision. But, something could be done sooner than that to boost the ethanol industry.
According to the Renewable Fuels Association, EPA has authority to define E12 (12% ethanol/88% gasoline) blends as “substantially similar” to fuels used in certified motor vehicles. The basis for this conclusion is that the weight percentage of oxygen that EPA allows in oxygenated gasoline actually equates to an oxygen percentage that would be present in 12% ethanol blends. Ethanol as a fuel additive is an oxygenate. Including ethanol raises the oxygen content of gasoline, causing for a cleaner, more complete combustion of gasoline.
“We need not wait until EPA decides on the formal E15 waiver request to increase the amount of ethanol we use,” said RFA President Bob Dinneen. “This interim and legally supported step of approving E12 blends would provide an immediate boost to America’s ethanol producers and provide gasoline marketers the flexibility they need to meet the requirements of the Renewable Fuels Standard and capitalize on the cost savings associated with increased ethanol blending.”
RFA supports the move to E15 and notes that the science also supports it, but waiting until December to make a decision means that blend wall just keeps getting closer and closer. EPA can and should move now to put the brakes on before we hit it.