Governors' Biofuels Coalition

California agencies’ long-awaited multimedia evaluation of the use of 15 percent ethanol (E15) gasoline in the state is finding that the blend will not pose significant harms to public health or the environment compared with E10 that is predominantly used now, with the report paving the way for a rulemaking to permanently allow E15 sales. Even though the California Air Resources Board and other environmental agencies are not finding major health or environmental risks, officials in the report are still emphasizing the need for monitoring to ensure safety.

An ethanol industry source says the MME is helpful in that it shows no adverse environmental or health concerns “and essentially green-lights a rulemaking process for E15.” The monitoring provisions in the MME “shouldn’t slow or impede the introduction of E15. That language is pretty standard from CARB with the introduction of any new fuel,” the source adds. Even so, ethanol producers from across the country last month elevated concerns that CARB could significantly delay the introduction of E15 due to potentially lengthy rulemakings to ensure the fuel is safely dispensed, stored and used.

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