EPA seeks comments on ethanol increase
April, 22 2009, 07:46 AM
The Environmental Protection Agency is accepting comments on a proposal to increase the allowable ethanol content of gasoline to 15 percent, a move opposed by many in the marine industry.
In March, Growth Energy and 54 ethanol manufacturers submitted a petition for a waiver to allow ethanol blends of 15 percent, or E15, compared to the E10 currently in use as part of the EPA's renewable fuels standard.
Both the National Marine Manufacturers Association and the Marine Retailers Association of America oppose the petition.
Ethanol in gasoline has been shown to damage marine engines, fuel-handling systems, fuel tanks, and pollution control and safety equipment.
"It's been pretty well devastating," Ed Lofgren, president of 3M Marine Service and chairman of the MRAA, previously told Soundings Trade Only.
"The biggest repair costs for my customers have been fuel, and these fuel problems have been exacerbated by ethanol in the last few years," he said. "If they increase ethanol in fuel, the problem could get worse."
Ethanol supporters are trying to circumvent the Clean Air Act process and get an administrative action declaring that E15 is the same as E10, according to the NMMA.
"That's a slippery slope where it is gradually increased over time," NMMA legislative director Matthew Dunn previously told Soundings Trade Only. "We will take firm action to prevent that from happening."
We might end up with a marine grade of gas, and you'll have to choose whether to pay extra costs and taxes on it, or pay for repairs to your marine engines. Maybe newer engines can be made that won't be as affected by the moisture inherent in ethanol fuels, but not everyone can just buy new motors.
I'd like to see some diesel outboards that could be run on bio-diesel.
We might end up with a marine grade of gas, and you'll have to choose whether to pay extra costs and taxes on it, or pay for repairs to your marine engines. Maybe newer engines can be made that won't be as affected by the moisture inherent in ethanol fuels, but not everyone can just buy new motors.
I'd like to see some diesel outboards that could be run on bio-diesel.
Weight would be the problem. I think the should ditch the ethenol. I'm going to switch to av gas in my small engines.
We might end up with a marine grade of gas, and you'll have to choose whether to pay extra costs and taxes on it, or pay for repairs to your marine engines. Maybe newer engines can be made that won't be as affected by the moisture inherent in ethanol fuels, but not everyone can just buy new motors.
I'd like to see some diesel outboards that could be run on bio-diesel.
Weight would be the problem. I think the should ditch the ethenol. I'm going to switch to av gas in my small engines.
Diesels don't have to be that heavy. Some of the VW and Mercedes diesel engines are not any bigger than a gas engine. And I believe Yanmar and one of the Japanese companies (maybe Yamaha) have produced diesel outboards, they just weren't a marketable option at the time here in the US. They were geared more toward commercial fishing in small boats like they do in Asia and Africa.
