US decision on ethanol blend put off until fall

The Associate Press
By MARY CLARE JALONICK and MATTHEW DALY (AP) – 6-17-10

WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency says it will wait until this fall to decide whether U.S. car engines can handle higher concentrations of ethanol in gasoline.

The agency had been expected to decide by this month whether to increase the maximum blend from 10 to 15 percent.

The EPA said Thursday that initial tests "look good" and should be completed by the end of September. A decision will come after the Energy Department completes the testing of the higher blend on vehicles built after 2007.

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