US Senators introduce bill to warn about E15 in small engines

Congressman Austin Scott of Georgia and Congresswoman Lois Frankel of Florida, members of the Congressional Boating Caucus, introduced the Consumer Protection and Fuel Transparency Act of 2018 on 16 May. The legislation would ‘more clearly’ label E15 ethanol blended gasoline, which they say is ‘harmful and corrosive’, at pumps across the US. The aim of the bill is to protect engines in boats, motorcycles, pre-2001 model year vehicles and outdoor power equipment.

In a press release announcing the bill, the legislators say: “E15 fuel has been determined to not be suitable for small engines in outdoor equipment and non-road products as E15 can cause corrosion, reduced fuel storage, and less engine lubrication resulting in engines to overheat.”

There has been persistent disagreement about the existence and relevance of the ‘blend wall’ affecting ethanol, with small engine users, like boat owners, coming into conflict with ethanol proponents. The former says that higher ethanol blends like E15 damage small engines, while the biofuels industry claims that E15 labels are confusing for customers and that the product is safe to use in most vehicles.

“As we are presented with more choices at the gas pump, it is imperative that American consumers know exactly what kind of fuel they are putting into their engines,” said Congressman Scott. “Gas pumps today are riddled with confusing labels that fail to adequately warn consumers of the dangers of fuelling small engine equipment with E15. For this reason, with the support of Congresswoman Frankel, I introduced the Consumer Protection and Fuel Transparency Act of 2018. By making fuel pump labels easier to decipher and coordinating public education programs, this legislation can save consumers time and energy at the pumps and avoid headaches and costs down the road.”

“In Florida, recreational boating is more than just a way of life – it’s an $11 billion industry supporting more than 56,000 jobs,” said Congresswoman Frankel. “This bipartisan bill educates people on their fuelling options to keep boats running well”.

In its current form, the bill mandates that the word “WARNING” be included on the labels no smaller than 5 by 7 inches (12.7 by 17.78 centimetres) and the development and deployment of a public education campaign on the risks associated with E15.