EPA approves study on E15

The Environmental Protection Agency has approved the voluntary use of E15 in all autos and light trucks built since 2001, equalling over 70% of US on-road vehicles.

An evaluation of E15's health effects as part of Growth Energy's three-year petition to approve sales of the mid-level ethanol blend has been issued and whilst the EPA must approve individual fuel blends, Tom Buis of Growth Energy suggests it is now a market driven issue rather than a regulatory one.

'It is up to the retailers and individual fuel companies to register for approval to sell E15,' he says. 'With a clear path forward toward a federally-approved, lower-cost fuel blend available as an antidote to the record gasoline prices we're told to expect, we are encouraged that retailers will move quickly.'

Growth Energy first filed its petition seeking federal approval to increase blends of ethanol in fuel from 10% (E10) to 15% (E15) in March 2009. It suggests that the move to E-15 will create about 140,000 jobs and reduce foreign oil imports by 7 billion gallons.

However, not everyone sees this as a positive step forward. The EPA's decision has incurred a reaction from the Trade association American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM).

'It is unfortunate that EPA today chose to continue down the path of allowing E15 to be sold as regular gasoline before necessary studies have been completed,' says AFPM president Charles T. Drevna.

'A number of studies have shown that increasing ethanol in gasoline could cause serious engine damage and as a result, auto manufacturers have stated that they will not warranty engines of their vehicles if gasoline containing more than 10% ethanol is used,' he continues. 'EPA's solution of simply sticking a small label on retail fuel pumps does not solve the problem and will do little to protect consumers from misfueling with gasoline containing greater than 10% ethanol.