Reducing green house gas emissions is a race of time, and now the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says it may not meet a 1 December deadline to decide whether to approve an industry request to boost the amount of ethanol that can be blended into petrol.
Fifty-five ethanol manufacturers petitioned the EPA last March to allow petrol to contain up to 15% ethanol by volume, known as E15.
US petrol is now approved to contain up to 10% of ethanol, mostly derived from corn.
The head of the EPA admits the agency may have to work past the 1 December deadline because it is still reviewing test results on how the higher blend rate would affect engines across the board, including cars, trucks, snow mobiles, motor boats and lawnmowers.
