Increase in percentage of ethanol promoted

Omaha World Herald (Nebraska)
Published Thursday October 23, 2008
BY LESLIE REED
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU

LINCOLN - Drivers stopping at gas pumps across the nation could someday find E-13 gas, instead of the E-10 blend they are accustomed to seeing.

The change - which would increase the standard amount of ethanol blended with gas from 10 percent to 13 percent - would expand the market for the corn-based fuel by 30 percent, almost overnight.

The U.S. Energy Department has said American-made automobiles could run on fuels containing as much as 15 percent alcohol without requiring engine modifications.

Several ethanol promotion groups are considering a petition that would ask the Environmental Protection Agency to allow retailers to sell the 13 percent blend. It would take about nine months for the agency to decide once a petition was filed, said Todd Sneller, executive director of the Nebraska Ethanol Board.

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