EPA approves first company plans for E15 misfueling mitigation; E15 may be lawfully introduced to market
15 June 2012
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved the first plans from individual companies for satisfying the misfueling mitigation conditions of the E15 partial waivers. Approved companies have now met all Clean Air Act requirements related to E15 and may legally—for CAA requirements—introduce E15 into the marketplace. However, noted EPA, other federal, state and local requirements and practical concerns must also be addressed.
For example, dispenser and tank compatibility with E15 must be considered by marketers of E15. (EPA has issued guidance and a proposed rule on tank compatibility.) Since a number of states restrict the sale of some gasoline-ethanol blends, state law changes may also be needed before E15 may be sold in those states. Industry stakeholders are also preparing an E15 public education campaign to provide consumers with additional information about the proper use of E15 and to help them avoid misfueling. EPA is participating in that effort.
In March 2009, Growth Energy and 54 ethanol manufacturers submitted a waiver application to the Clean Air Act for the introduction into commerce of gasoline-ethanol blends containing more than 10 vol% and up to 15 vol% ethanol content (E15 Waiver Request). On 13 October 2010, EPA took two actions:
It partially approved Growth Energy’s E15 Waiver Request to allow E15 to be introduced into commerce for use in Model Year (MY) 2007 and newer cars, light-duty trucks, and SUVs.
EPA also proposed a regulatory program to promote the successful introduction of E15 into commerce by reducing the potential for the misfueling of vehicles, engines and equipment that are prohibited from using E15.
In January 2011, EPA partially approved the E15 Waiver Request to be introduced into commerce for use in MY 2001 and newer cars, light-duty trucks, and SUVs. In June 2011, EPA issued a final rule establishing the regulatory program rule to help inform consumers about the appropriate use of E15 and reduce the potential for the misfueling of vehicles, engines and equipment that are prohibited from using E15.
In February 2012, EPA released an evaluation of information submitted by the Renewable Fuels Association and Growth Energy for satisfying the emissions and health effects data requirements for registration of E15 as required by the Clean Air Act. On 15 March 2012, EPA concluded that the Model MMP submitted by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) would generally be sufficient to satisfy the partial waivers’ MMP requirement. (Earlier post.)
Subsequent to the March approval, EPA received requests from a number of companies for approval to use the RFA Model MMP. Before approving their requests, EPA sought more information about how E15 would be dispensed, particularly from blender pumps. After working with RFA and individual plan submitters, EPA determined that an addendum to RFA’s Retailer Handbook, which is referenced in the Model Plan, provided the necessary information for EPA to approve the individual plan submitters’ MMPs.
A list of companies that have approved MMP submissions may be found here. The list is updated at least every two months.
The people at the EPA and their supporters wish to starve many children to death by making more demands on maize which makes food far more expensive for families living on limited meager food supplies. No evaluation of the use of maize ethanol can show that maize ethanol or even petroleum ethanol itself is not a food. For reducing CO2 releases, it would cost far less to governments and consumers to spend all monies now spent on maize ethanol on growing new trees in US deforested areas. Because the grain of maize is the only part used, non fuel trees would remove larger amounts of CO2 from the air. Co-generation also reduces CO2 at lower costs.
Posted by: Henry Gibson | 15 June 2012 at 10:20 PM
Henry there are a lot of people in the world and not enough gasoline, something has to give since people want to drive.
Posted by: Herm | 16 June 2012 at 04:06 AM
It might be better to spend the money on efficiency increases rather than ethanol.
A 10% increase in efficiency could offset a 10% (11-12%) ethanol blend.
They really should get rid of the ethanol mandate which only serves to increase the incomes of farmers at the expense of everyone else, especially in the 3rd world.
Posted by: mahonj | 16 June 2012 at 06:06 AM
I don't understand some of these comments. 12b gal of ethanol that prevents our spending in excess of $30 billion dollars to foreign countries makes sense to me. One of the reasons for ethanol is energy independence. Militarry use (jet full, etc) appears to be a major new use.
We export 13% of our corn and would export more if it was if any country would purchase it. With the increase in algae and cellulosic ethanol I hope we can produce much more. The starving children comment is ridiculous.
Posted by: Jimr | 16 June 2012 at 07:38 AM
The more E15 the better and the more flex fuel cars the better. Better fleet mpg and more biofuels means less $$ is exported and the more $$ stays in the US.
Posted by: Chops | 16 June 2012 at 03:11 PM
A gasoline engine with higher compression ratio for increase efficiency can run on gasoline for most of the time at low load, while at higher load, ethanol can be added in proportion to load level, to prevent knock. This would promote more efficient use of ethanol than E15.
The use of higher compression ratio will promote better combustion, faster combustion with higher expansion ratio (cut-off ratiio) to deliver more energy to the piston, and reduce pollutants of unburned products. The improvement in efficiency will be quite dramatic.
The same fuel injector can be used for both gasoline and ethanol and any-ratio-mixture thereof to reduce cost. Another ethanol line can feed ethanol to the injector by opening of a valve when necessary.
Posted by: Roger Pham | 17 June 2012 at 05:15 PM