Two Pumps for Ethanol Fuel: An Unlikely Solution

TheLog.com
Thursday, December 10, 2009 12:00:00 AM

Faced with a decision on whether to allow the level of ethanol in gasoline to rise from a maximum of 10 percent to 15 percent (a fuel blend called E15) the EPA did what government agencies often do: It delayed the decision until next year.

On one side, powerful ethanol lobbyists from the Growth Energy consortium, on behalf of their agribusiness clients, are pushing hard for a government sanction of 15 percent ethanol levels in gasoline. They claim the move would help make the U.S. more energy independent and would help the environment — although both claims have been challenged by opponents of increased ethanol levels in gasoline.

On the other side, builders of boats and marine engines, builders of lawn mowers and other small-engine equipment, and petroleum producers oppose allowing more ethanol in gasoline. Even the current 10 percent ethanol fuel blends have caused major damage in boat engines, fuel system components and fuel tanks (not to mention the damage caused to other equipment with small gasoline engines), they argue.

After examining the evidence of the damage higher ethanol fuel blends could wreak on boats and other small-engine products, you might think that the EPA would have no alternative but to reject plans to allow the new E15 fuel. But you’d be wrong.

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