July 23, 2010
E15: Fact vs. Fiction
Recent claims by industry groups that E15 is untested are disingenuous at best. Growth Energy’s Green Jobs Waiver was accompanied by more scientific data – more independently-gathered statistical information and study – than any of the previous 11 petitions approved by the Environmental Protection Agency.
E15 critics are fighting studies based on science with memos, letters and opinions.
Let’s check the facts behind the attacks on E15:
Claim: Growth Energy’s Green Jobs Waiver didn’t test every single small engine.
Fact: The Clean Air Act petition does not require any small engine testing. Small engines represent one percent of all engines in the United States. Even so, the Green Jobs Waiver thoroughly evaluated a variety of small non-road engines using E15 and found no increase of regulated emissions, no material compatibility issues, and no substantial performance issues or engine failures attributable to the use of E15. For small engine owners who do not want to fuel with higher levels of ethanol, we support the use of E0 or E10 for them.
Claim: E15 will not improve our environment.
Fact: The EPA has found that grain ethanol is a low carbon fuel that emits fewer greenhouse gases than gasoline refined from oil – and that cellulosic ethanol is carbon-negative, not only removing the carbon it emits, but carbon emissions put into the atmosphere by fossil fuels.
Claim: E15 has not been tested thoroughly.
Fact: The Department of Energy is conducting even more tests than are required under the Clean Air Act. In June, DOE announced that it is adding additional tests not required by the CAA before they make a final decision on E15. So the federal government is going above and beyond the requirements to meet the Clean Air Act.
Claim: E15 Will Reduce Vehicle Driveability/ Performance.
Fact: The studies in the waiver request include thorough testing that overwhelmingly demonstrate that higher-ethanol blends do not result in driveability or performance problems. The Department of Energy study found no operability or driveability issues with E15 as compared to E0; a Minnesota Driveability Study concluded that the use of E20 presented drivers with no obvious differences in power or performance when compared to E0; a study from the Rochester Institute of Technology found that vehicles ran as well or better on E20 than on E0; an MCAR Study reported no driveability complaints and no reports of vapor lock or starting difficulties using E30 as compared to E10.
For more research supporting the Green Jobs Waiver click here.
