The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Friday approved an increased ethanol blend in gasoline for roughly two out of every three cars in the U.S.
The Agency waived a limitation on selling gasoline that contains more than 10% ethanol for model year 2001 through 2006 passenger vehicles, including cars, SUVs, and light pickup trucks. The waiver applies to fuel that contains up to 15% ethanol–known as E15. EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson made the decision after a review of the Department of Energy’s testing and other available data on E15’s effect on emissions from model years 2001 through 2006 cars and light trucks.
The Renewable Fuels Association said the waiver approves E15 for 62% of US vehicles, raising the theoretical blending wall–the market size for ethanol–to approximately 17.5 billion gallons.
Segments of the oil and auto industries have opposed the waiver, as well as some environmentalists and researchers who say the U.S. does not have the infrastructure to consume more ethanol.
However, EPA Administrator Jackson said testing shows E15 does not harm emissions control equipment in newer cars and light trucks. “Wherever sound science and the law support steps to allow more home-grown fuels in America’s vehicles, this administration takes those steps,” she said.
On October 13, 2010, EPA approved a waiver allowing the use of E15 for model year 2007 and newer cars and light trucks. At that time, EPA denied a request to allow the use of E15 for model year 2000 and older vehicles and postponed its decision on the use of E15 in model year 2001 to 2006 cars and light trucks until DOE completed additional testing for those model years.
The Agency also announced that no waiver is being granted this year for E15 use in any motorcycles, heavy-duty vehicles, or non-road engines because current testing data does not support such a waiver.
These waivers represent one of a number of actions that are needed from federal, state and industry to commercialize E15 gasoline blends. Also, EPA said it is developing requirements to ensure that E15 is properly labeled at the gas pump. The label will be designed to prevent refueling into vehicles, engines, and equipment not currently approved for the higher ethanol blend.
EPA granted the waiver after considering the E15 petition submitted by Growth Energy and 54 ethanol manufacturers in March 2009.
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