thelog.com
Renewable Fuel Standard reform could restrict ethanol in fuels
By Parimal M. Rohit
WASHINGTON, DC — Several repre- sentatives on both sides of the aisle revived an effort earlier this month to reform the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and end ethanol fuel-blending mandates. If approved and signed by the president, the proposed law would require recreational boaters nation- wide to fill their gas tanks with cleaner and safer fuels. The Renewable Fuel Standard
Reform Act of 2015 was introduced Feb. 4 by Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R- Virginia) and co-sponsors Jim Costa (D-California), Peter Welsh (D- Vermont) and Steve Womack (R- Arkansas). More than 50 organizations, including American Sportfishing Association, BoatUS and National Marine Manufacturers Association, formally expressed support of the bill. It is the second time representatives have sought to reform the RFS. A bipartisan effort in the House failed in 2013. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D- California) proposed a similar bill in the Senate. Both bills failed to come to
The Renewable Fuel Standard Reform Act of 2015 proposes to require recreational boats to be filled with cleaner and safer fuels. Those in favor of the bill say ethanol damages boat engines. The bill’s opponents claim ethanol supports millions of jobs.
a vote. Costa, Goodlatte, Welsh and
Womack’s bill proposes to eliminate corn-based ethanol blending and cap ethanol blending into conventional at 10 percent, commonly referred to as ethanol 10 or E10. “The current Renewable Fuel
Standard is not only hurting American consumers, energy producers, live- stock producers, food manufacturers and retailers, but has surpassed a sus-
tainable state,” Costa said. “The Renewable Fuel Standard Reform Act provides commonsense, long-over- due reforms that will address many of the issues plaguing the RFS while boosting job creation, strength- ening the health of our economy and increasing the affordability of the food our families eat. The United States is going through an ener- gy renaissance, and this bill is an important step in our future energy success.” Welsh said ethanol is bad news for boat engines. “[Ethanol is] ruining the engines of boats, chainsaws and snow- mobiles … across the country. This bill will remove the remaining consumer subsidy of the ethanol industry, the mandated blending of ethanol into gaso-
line,” Welsh said. “The Renewable Fuel Standard is a well-intentioned flop.” BoatUS President Margaret Podlich explained the bill would remove ethanol mandates and create more opportunities for other biofuels. “This bill, which has both Democrat
and Republican support, will effective- ly remove mandates for higher blend ethanol fuels (more than 10 percent) and allow for investment in other more compatible biofuels,” Podlich stated.
The Log • Feb. 27 - Mar. 12, 2015 • 3 Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) officials have been trying to address misfueling at gas stations. In February 2013, the EPA approved a new blender pump configuration for gas stations seeking to use a common hose and nozzle to dispense E10 and E15 fuels. Podlich said the combination of E10 and E15 at the same gas pump could result in boaters being confused and filling their boats with E15 instead of E10. According to BoatUS, boaters are prohibited from using E15 in their ves- sels.
“[More than] 60 percent of BoatUS members fill their boat’s fuel tanks at roadside gas stations where the higher blend ethanol fuels are often the cheapest fuel at the pump. This creates a huge potential for misfueling and puts boaters at risk.” According to The Hill, the
Renewable Fuel Association (RFA), an ethanol lobby, opposes the proposed bill. The lobby reportedly issued a study last week at the National Ethanol Conference in Texas presenting the economic benefits of ethanol. Specifically, the study reported 14.3 billion gallons of ethanol was pro- duced in 2014, potentially offsetting 515 million barrels of foreign oil. RFA has promoted increased use of ethanol blends.
The RFS became law in 2005 and
required biofuels such as corn-based ethanol to be blended with gasoline.
See ETHANOL page 17
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