WASHINGTON, DC – Growth Energy leaders say they continue to oppose provisions – approved today by the House of Representatives – that would block the Administration from implementing policies that would reduce our dependence on foreign oil, create jobs and strengthen our national security.
Two amendments offered by Reps. John Sullivan, R-Okla. and Jeff Flake R-Ariz. would continue America’s addiction to foreign oil and harm our economy by blocking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from implementing its approved waiver for E15 ethanol blends in America’s fuel supply and prohibiting construction of blender pumps and ethanol storage facilities.
In a landmark regulatory decision, the EPA had approved E15 for all vehicles built in the last decade – about 151 million cars, or 67 percent of the country’s vehicles, which together consume 75 percent of the country’s fuel. The decision, in response to Growth Energy’s Green Jobs Waiver, was based solely on data collected from a rigorous, lengthy and extreme standard of testing on performance of engines, emissions systems and automobile drivability; E15 was found to work fine in all automobiles tested, from model year 2001 and newer.
“The Sullivan provision picks politics over science. EPA’s consideration of E15 was based on a more exhaustive study and collection of data than any of the 11 previously-approved petitions. No other fuel mix has been tested more,” said Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy, which filed the Green Jobs Waiver for E15 in March 2009. “With all the turmoil going on in the Middle East and elsewhere, the House of Representatives just voted to stop the only viable alternative to foreign oil: ethanol. It is the wrong move at the wrong time for the wrong reasons.”
- E15 is the most tested fuel blend in our nation’s history.
- DOE and EPA have both said that ethanol does not harm engine durability nor emissions equipment for vehicles 2001 and newer (which represents nearly 70 percent of all vehicles in the United States and 75percent of all the fuel consumed).
- Delphi, the global maker of engine parts, recently stated that it has been supplying E15-compliant fuel pumps since 1992, and that its fuel pumps today can even handle E25 blends.
- E15 will reduce our dependence on foreign oil by 7 billion gallons annually.
- E15 will create up to 136,000 American jobs that can’t be outsourced.
- E15 will improve our environment – corn ethanol has 59 percent fewer harmful emissions compared to conventional gasoline.
- E15 will inject $24.4 billion into the U.S. economy and help keep more U.S. money within our own borders.
- E15 is voluntary.
- Without E15, you are mandating that 90 percent of all fuel will be petroleum-based. Capping the blend at 10 percent will prevent the development of next-generation biofuels.
Last summer, Growth Energy introduced the Fueling Freedom plan, a proposal that would open the transportation fuels market by investing in ethanol infrastructure like blender pumps.
“At a time of increasing instability in oil exporting countries, this job killing amendment from Rep. Flake would deepen our addiction to foreign oil and further hurt our economy by limiting consumer access to the only commercially viable fuel alternative that is cleaner and more cost efficient than gasoline refined from oil.” Buis added. “Passage by the House is only the first step in this process. We will fight to remove these provisions in the Senate.”
- Blender pumps offer the American consumer a choice of fuels based on price and performance
- With blender pumps in place, consumers can choose whether they want no ethanol all the way up to 85% ethanol
- Putting blender pumps into place will start to create a level playing field for ethanol to compete with foreign oil and eventually eliminate the blender tax credit entirely.
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With turmoil in the Middle East, shouldn’t we let American consumers be able to decide whether they want American ethanol or Saudi oil?
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About Growth Energy
Growth Energy is a group committed to the promise of agriculture and growing America’s economy through cleaner, greener energy. Growth Energy members recognize America needs a new ethanol approach. Through smart policy reform and a proactive grassroots campaign, Growth Energy promotes reducing greenhouse gas emissions, expanding the use of ethanol in gasoline, decreasing our dependence on foreign oil, and creating American jobs at home. More information can be found at GrowthEnergy.org.