Urban Air Led Coalition Calls on EPA to Repeal Regulations Limiting Demand for Ethanol

Source: By Kim Trinchet, Urban Air Initiative • Posted: Thursday, May 18, 2017

Washington D.C., May 17, 2017:  In comments submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency this week, a broad coalition of stakeholders said ethanol is a price-competitive, safe, and efficient high-octane fuel additive, but its highest and best use is currently thwarted by counterproductive EPA rules.

The comments were filed in response to EPA’s Request for Comment on the Regulatory Reform Task Force Evaluation of Existing Regulations. The Urban Air Initiative-led effort included the Clean Fuels Development Coalition; 25x’25 Alliance; Glacial Lakes Energy, LLC; Siouxland Ethanol, LLC;  ICM, Inc.; Nebraska Ethanol Board; Nebraska Ethanol Industry Coalition; South Dakota Farmers Union; North Dakota Farmers Union; Minnesota Farmers Union; Montana Farmers Union; and Wisconsin Farmers Union.

“These EPA regulatory barriers have senselessly limited competition in the market for transportation fuels, killing American jobs and depriving drivers of more economical and healthier alternatives to regular gasoline,” said UAI President Dave Vander Griend.

Specific recommendations included the following actions the agency has the authority to take:

  • EPA should repeal certification fuel rules that prevent auto manufacturers from building more efficient vehicles.
  • EPA should repeal its erroneous and outdated interpretation of the sub-sim law as capping ethanol use in existing vehicles.
  • EPA should repeal unnecessary RVP regulations that limit the viability of E15 and mid-level ethanol blends.
  • EPA should repeal and replace its inaccurate fuel economy formula.
  • EPA should repeal and replace its rule requiring states to use incorrect emissions estimates in pollution reduction planning.

According to Vander Griend, “These counterproductive regulatory barriers have prevented ethanol’s superior automotive and environmental values from driving its continued growth in the U.S. fuel market as a source of clean octane for today’s motor vehicles and the highly efficient vehicles that increased ethanol blending would enable in the near future”.

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