House Committee action on bill to require EPA to seek independent scientific analysis on the effects of 15 percent ethanol

On February 7, 2012, the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology will vote on H.R. 3199, introduced by Representative Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) on October 14, 2011. This bill would require the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to seek independent scientific analysis on the effects of 15 percent ethanol blend (E15) gasoline.

"There are serious concerns that the EPA used only one Department of Energy test and rushed E15's introduction into the marketplace," Sensenbrenner said. "This test was limited in scope and ignored a plethora of evidence – albeit inconvenient evidence for the EPA – that shows E15 gasoline has a negative effect on engines."

The American Motorcyclist Association needs your help to pass H.R. 3199. Please join me in sending an email to the Chairman of the Committee on Science, Space and Technology, Representative Ralph Hall.

You can follow this link; http://science.house.gov/contact-us/email-us to the committee web page where you can send your request for the passage of H.R. 3199.

This is very important because the outcome could affect the availability of E10 gasoline to the public.

Read this article written by Rep. Sensenbrenner about the use of E15.

The EPA's out-of-touch agenda

As the House debates and votes on appropriations for the Department of the Interior, much of the focus will be on the Environmental Protection Agency’s record. One thing is increasingly clear: what the Obama Administration has been unable to achieve through legislation, the EPA will enact through regulation.

The agency’s politicized agenda is sorely out of step with the American people and our national economic interests. The latest example is EPA’s waiver to allow 50 percent more ethanol in our fuel.

Yesterday, the EPA published its final rule on the appropriate use of gasoline with 15 percent ethanol (E15), including its attempts to mitigate misfueling concerns. This follows the agency’s decision to grant a waiver allowing this higher ethanol blend into the national gasoline supply. This waiver came at the request of the ethanol industry, but it will come at the expense of American jobs and consumers.

Specifically, the new misfueling rule prohibits the use of E15 in vehicles and off-road engines not covered by the partial waiver decisions and it requires all gasoline pumps to have a specific label for ethanol with 15 percent gasoline. 

However, small engine manufacturers and vehicle manufactures alike have asked the EPA to wait to allow E15 in the marketplace, warning of costs to American consumers and raising several safety concerns. In response to an inquiry I sent to manufacturers about the potential effects of E15 on their products, a Wisconsin-based small engine manufacturer replied, “we are confident that EPA’s proposed misfueling regulation will not prevent E15 from being mistakenly used in non-approved small engines.” 

For every American who owns and operates a boat, lawnmower, or tractor, E15 poses a real and serious threat to both the engine and the individual operating these products. Overheating, combustion, and premature engine failure have been cited as potential consequences from E15.

Additionally, even for those vehicles included in the EPA’s waiver, many automakers warned that E15 could harm engines.

When the Committee on Science held a hearing to evaluate the science behind E15, the EPA defended its decision to allow E15 in the marketplace, saying the DOE conducted tests that ensure the increased ethanol blend will not negatively impact vehicles made since 2001. This statement stands in direct opposition to concerns I received from automakers. In fact, all 14 automaker responses overwhelmingly predict that E15 will damage engines, void warranties, and reduce fuel efficiency.

Along with its final rule, the EPA refused a petition to require the continued sale of fuel with no ethanol or a lower blend of ethanol. 

As long as the federal government continues to prop up the ethanol industry with mandates, subsidies and protective tariffs, there is a real concern that E15 could crowd out the market in the future. It is high time that the House rein in the EPA’s over regulation and ideological agenda.

Americans need a fuel that will help them get more miles out of a gallon of gas and more miles out of their car. With the decision to blindly allow E15, this agency is pursuing its own political agenda at the expense of American consumers. 

Rep. Sensenbrenner (R-WI.) is the Vice-Chair of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and represents the 5th District of Wisconsin.

 For some more background on this read the information below.

From the American Motorcyclist Association

"The EPA's decision to allow E15 into the marketplace will impact every American who owns a car, lawnmower or boat," Sensenbrenner said. Automakers insist that using E15 will void warranties, lower fuel efficiency and cause premature engine failure. In off-road engines, the effects can even be dangerous for users.

"There are serious concerns that the EPA used only one Department of Energy test and rushed E15's introduction into the marketplace," Sensenbrenner said. "This test was limited in scope and ignored a plethora of evidence – albeit inconvenient evidence for the EPA – that shows E15 gasoline has a negative effect on engines."

The new E15 gasoline formulation may appear at a fueling station near you and you need to be careful where you use this new fuel blend. That is because the EPA, in October 2010, approved E15 for use in model year 2007 and newer light duty vehicles (cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty passenger vehicles). In January 2011, it added model year 2001-2006 light duty vehicles to the approved list.

Riders should pay attention to this list because no motorcycles or ATVs are currently listed.

The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is concerned about E15 because it burns hotter than gasoline that contains a lesser amount of ethanol. In engines not designed to dissipate that extra heat, damage in the form of premature wear can result. Although this is a concern in all motorcycles, it's particularly problematic for air-cooled engines found in many bikes. Moreover, use of E15 may even void the manufacturer warranty.

Since the approved list includes many light-duty vehicles in use today, refineries, distributors, and fueling stations may choose to offer primarily E15 gasoline because of this action by the EPA. This should concern all motorcyclists and off-highway enthusiasts since this may affect the availability of gasoline with less or no ethanol (E10 or E0).

In a previous AMA alert, Representative Sensenbrenner also introduced H.R. 748. This bill would prohibit the Administrator of the EPA from authorizing the use of gasoline containing greater than 10 percent ethanol in certain vehicles.

For a detailed analysis of this issue, including access to related documents, please sign up to be an AMA Defender member at AmericanMotorcyclist.com/membership/join. Defender members who sign up to receive Action Alerts automatically receive the detailed analysis.

If you are an AMA member, thank you for your support. If you aren't a member, please consider joining. More members means more clout and your support helps the AMA fight for your rights – on the road, trail and in the halls of government. To join, go to AmericanMotorcyclist.com/membership/join.