News Releases

CEI: Facing Reality, Obama’s EPA Scales Back Ethanol Mandate

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 – For the first time in the history of the federal Renewable Fuel Standard program, the Environmental Protection Agency today proposed to scale back the amount of biofuel the government requires to be blended into the nation’s gasoline for next year. Specifically, the EPA is proposing to cut the…

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 – For the first time in the history of the federal Renewable Fuel Standard program, the Environmental Protection Agency today proposed to scale back the amount of biofuel the government requires to be blended into the nation’s gasoline for next year. Specifically, the EPA is proposing to cut the 2014 overall blending target from 18.15 billion gallons to 15.21 billion gallons.

“Market realities forced the agency’s hand,” said CEI Senior Fellow Marlo Lewis. “Like all central planning schemes, there comes a point where even the commissar has to admit that it’s just not working.”

EPA’s proposal is a welcome step in the right direction but does not go nearly far enough. “Nobody likes the RFS program except the special-interest groups that directly profit from it,” said Lewis. “Even as environmental policy, the RFS is a bust, as an extensive AP investigation published this week confirms.”

Two factors compelled the EPA to make this adjustment. One is that the RFS requires obligated parties – refiners, blenders and fuel importers – to sell 1.75 billion gallons of cellulosic in 2014. Yet, despite years of research and taxpayer support, the ethanol industry produced only 20,000 gallons of cellulosic biofuel last year.

The second factor is the blend wall – the maximum amount of ethanol that can be sold each year given legal or practical limits on how much can be blended into each gallon of motor fuel.  Although the EPA approved the sale of E15  — 15 percent of the gasoline consists of ethanol – in October 2010, potentially increasing by 50 percent the total amount of ethanol sold each year, lack of appropriate fueling infrastructure, warranty and liability concerns and consumer skepticism effectively limit the standard blend to E10.

“Even if the RFS did not inflate food prices, increase pain at the pump, exacerbate world hunger, expand aquatic dead zones or contribute to habitat loss, Congress still should repeal it, because the RFS flouts the core constitutional principle of equality under law,” Lewis said.

“The RFS literally compels one industry to purchase, process and sell other industries’ products,” he continued. “Imagine the howls from RFS supporters if Congress were to compel corn farmers to sell annually increasing volumes of wheat, soybeans or rice. Imagine the outcry if Congress imposed on corn farmers a 15-year plan establishing volumetric targets for the purchase of certain types of seeds, fertilizers, pesticides or harvesting machinery.

“Reporters should ask ethanol lobbyists: Do you support Soviet-style production quota generally, or only when it rigs the market in favor of your industry?”

(Editor’s Note: The above communication is a news release and does not necessarily reflect the editorial position of FITSNews.com. To submit your letter, news release, email blast, media advisory or issues statement for publication, click here).

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36 comments

idcydm November 15, 2013 at 8:52 pm

Next to Global Warming, ethanol is the biggest scam going in the Environmental Protection Agency

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tomstickler November 15, 2013 at 9:31 pm

Surely, this is Obama’s fault?

Let’s hope this is the end of E15.

BTW, a press release should not assume everyone knows what CEI is, or what RFS is, just sayin’.

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Increasing prices for grain November 15, 2013 at 10:05 pm

Given it’s on the internet, Google is readily available.

That being said, if it was also issued via paper I would agree with you.

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TontoBubbaGoldstein November 16, 2013 at 8:43 am Reply
GrandTango November 16, 2013 at 10:53 am

FITS has absolutely NO experience as a legitimate journalist. On top of that, the dumb@$$ is all over the road in his ideaolgy. A weak thinker to say the least.

So why do you wait until one of his blatant F*#k-ups to say saomething?…. The fact that you are too stupid to catch him before now, makes you look as ignorant as FITS.

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tomstickler November 16, 2013 at 11:33 am

I am not so stupid as to not notice that the F*#k-up was by CEI, rather than FITS, which has no responsibility nor authority to correct press releases sent to them.

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Fuck This Guy November 16, 2013 at 12:57 pm

I bet you really miss the days of leaded gas while seeking that cheap high.

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GrandTango November 16, 2013 at 5:39 pm

Wow!!!.. Another leftwing, deep thinking genius. You represent your lord-gods Obama, and his dumb@$$ stooge FITS, so, well…

You are typical liberal…

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Again, Fuck This Guy November 17, 2013 at 3:19 pm

Man, I sure miss ‘ludes…

GrandTango November 17, 2013 at 8:38 pm

They didn’t miss you.

The Colonel November 16, 2013 at 4:06 am

Ethanol – bad for your car, bad for the environment bad for the economy

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=ethanol-corn-climate

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tomstickler November 16, 2013 at 11:34 am

Extra bad for my motorcycle.

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The Colonel November 16, 2013 at 11:49 am

You ought to try it in a 40 year old two stroke – fortunately I was able to install a plastic tank while I was restoring the stock one. I started using Stabil in all of my motors that I fill with a gas can.

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? November 16, 2013 at 1:41 pm

“fortunately I was able to install a plastic tank”

The alcohol will screw up that too. It’s makes plastic brittle over time and deforms it.

Ducati had a major problem not so long ago with rotational molded tanks on their newer bikes…

I’m not sure how they resolved it…change of formulation or lining with epoxy.

I use Startron in my bike(s).

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Norma Scok November 16, 2013 at 3:02 pm

Ahh…gas “stabilizer”..America’s newest snake oil. That junk doesn’t change the chemical makeup of ethanol laced gas. It can’t change the phase separation when the alcohol absorbs enough water to separate. It might help out in the corrosion dept..but past that, you’re wasting your money. Just buy real gas.

? November 16, 2013 at 3:15 pm

I’m glad you said something, I’m not a chemist.

So is all this bullshit too?

http://mystarbrite.com/startron/content/view/14/37/lang,en/

I’m curious to know and get your opinion.

You agree obviously though that the alcohol is eating up rubber gas lines an plastic though in addition to your corrosion comment, correct?

Norma Scok November 17, 2013 at 7:02 pm

How can 12 oz of miracle fluid additive the chemical make up of 30 gallons of gas? If it could, seems an enterprising gas station owner could partner with gold eagle or Starbrite and advertise their gas won’t do what others will do, an charge $.05-$.10/gallon more. So far, I’ve never seen that–have you?

It might help the corrosive effects of ethanol, but it can’t, it won’t change ethanol’s ability to absorb water. If it hasn’t happened to you, it has no more to do with what you added to it than what your local climate was and when your fuel was diluted with alcohol. Stabil did nothing more than take your money and let you sleep easier.

? November 16, 2013 at 3:17 pm

Btw, if you mean “real gas”, without ethanol…I do.

But sometimes when I’m riding where there’s no non-ethanol premium nearby I have no choice….then I dump some of the Startron in….(probably wasting my money by your account..lol) because I usually can’t run it all out before my next fill up.

What a pain in the ass.

? November 16, 2013 at 4:01 pm

“It can’t change the phase separation”

Startron is claiming it can. I have no idea as i’m not a chemist, do you have an opinion on it?j (see link)

Norma Scok November 17, 2013 at 7:14 pm

How would such a small amount of Startron, or any additive, change the chemical (and physical) makeup of alcohol laced gas? It can’t remove the ethanol. And it doesn’t change the gas. What does it do? The phase separation point is due more to when the alcohol was added to your fuel, and how much water it has absorbed already. The best it can do is assist with the corrosion effects of the water. The “ether” additives may join with the alcohol and absorb the water at different rates than the ethanol and allow it to be expelled with combustion at smaller amounts, but it can’t change the fact alcohol absorbs water.

The Colonel November 16, 2013 at 4:10 pm

Stabil has been out since lead went away – I’ve used it to keep my gas can gas fresh for years and know for a fact it works. I guess we’ll find out if it works on ethanol for water control in 4-5 months.

Smirks November 16, 2013 at 7:52 pm

I can vouch it definitely helps too.

Norma Scok November 17, 2013 at 7:15 pm

How do you know? Did you have a control amount that you can compare to the non treated gas/ethanol mixture?

The Colonel November 16, 2013 at 4:10 pm

Stratron is supposed to good in outboards as well.

SparkleCity November 16, 2013 at 10:55 pm

“Ring-ding-ding-ding-ding” sings the happy two stroke smoker!!!!

I cut my teeth on a 1973 Yamaha CT-175 (cutest little thing you ever saw!!!), moved to the “Beast” (Yamaha RT-360) – both 2 strokes. Then to the Yamaha 4 stroke flagship the XS-650 all within less than 1 1/2 years!!!

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SparkleCity November 16, 2013 at 10:42 pm

I ain’t crazy about putting in my bikes either. There are more places selling non-ethanol but it is 20-40 cents/gallon higher.

I’ve got an 83 Suzuki & a 2002 Kawasaki. I usually try to use high test and not keep the stuff in the tank too long. I did have to replace the gas line and overhaul the carbs in the Suzuki and rebuild the Kawasaki’s carb a few years back.

From what I’ve read in “Cycle World” is not to let it set in the tanks for an extended period of time. In other words, the best thing is to ride those ponies every chance you get. – I cant argue with that premise!!

“Stabil” is probably not a bad idea but I haven’t read the definitive answer on it. Sure would like to get a straight answer on that. Only “snake” oil I use is some “Chevron” fuel cleaner from time to time and according to “Cycle World” that is one of the few “snake oils” that passes the “No BS” test.

Been riding since 1973 and have had my motorcycle endorsement on my license since 1974 – the first year it was issued in South Carolina If I’m not mistaken.

Long & short: They should have never started this 10% ethanol in the first place!!!

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TontoBubbaGoldstein November 16, 2013 at 8:39 am

TBG’s outboard, lawnmowers, chainsaw and other small engines say “Thank You.”

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Norma Scok November 16, 2013 at 3:00 pm

My lawnmower, boat, and string trimmer are much happier now.

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Smirks November 16, 2013 at 7:54 pm

Wish I didn’t have to drive out of my way to get ethanol-free gas still.

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Smirks November 16, 2013 at 7:44 pm

I understand that lowering oil consumption is something that will help the country, but ethanol causes way more problems than it helps solve. This is a step in the right direction at least.

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euwe max November 16, 2013 at 10:39 pm

Well, whatever we do, let’s make sure we don’t label GMO foods! That’s an infirmnia!

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9" November 17, 2013 at 5:43 pm

That’s Nixon’s EPA

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ElCid November 18, 2013 at 11:07 am

JUST LIKE HISTORY NEVER EXISTED!!

We tried this dumbass idea in the 1970s using Ethanol and Methanol.
It failed then for exactly the same reason it’s failing now: IT’S A STUPID IDEA TO BURN YOUR FOOD SUPPLY!!

Just pandering to the special interest corn lobby.

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CharliePeters February 3, 2014 at 6:35 pm

Dr Stan’s California water supply opinion

http://mediaarchives.gsradio.net/radioliberty/121213d.mp3

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CharliePeters November 9, 2014 at 10:31 pm

BP ethanol affect the beef?

Dr. Stan’s California water & fuel supply opinion

http://mediaarchives.gsradio.net/radioliberty/121213d.mp3

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CharliePeters November 9, 2014 at 10:33 pm

A random ‘Smog Check’ inspection & repair ‘secret shopper’ audit, ethanol cap and elimination of dual fuel CAFE credit can cut California “Wallet Flushing” car tax over 50% in 2015. (Prevent Over 2000 tons per day of sulfur, PM, HC, O3, NOx, CO & CO2.) Improved performance of AB32 at reduced cost.

Mary Nichols AB 32 opinion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zl-Nrep74qg

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