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EPA seeks to boost ethanol in fuel supply
The Hill ^ | May 18, 2018 | Timothy Cama

Posted on 05/18/2016 2:26:28 PM PDT by jazusamo

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wants to increase the amount of ethanol and other biofuels in the nation’s fuel supply.

But the volumes proposed Wednesday under the renewable fuel standard (RFS) still fall under targets written into the 2007 law that created the program.

That ended up angering both the ethanol industry, which wants more of its product to be mandated, and the oil industry, which wants the program rolled back. The agency plans to mandate that 18.8 billion gallons of biofuels be blended into the country’s gasoline and diesel supply next year.

Of that amount, 14.8 billion gallons can be traditional corn-based ethanol, while the rest would be filled out by biodiesel, cellulosic ethanol and other nonfossil-fuel liquids.

It’s the second year in a row in which the EPA is relying on a piece of the law that allows it to set lower ethanol levels than called for, citing problems like a lower demand for gasoline and diesel than Congress envisioned in 2007.

“The Renewable Fuel Standards program is a success story that has driven biofuel production and use in the U.S. to levels higher than any other nation,” Janet McCabe, acting head of the EPA’s air office, said in a statement. “This administration is committed to keeping the RFS program on track, spurring continued growth in biofuel production and use, and achieving the climate and energy independence benefits that Congress envisioned from this program.”

Under the program, the EPA sets annual levels for biofuel blending. Oil refiners then must either blend those fuels into traditional fuels, or pay on the open market for credits from other companies that have sold the fuels.

The ethanol volume is an increase of about 300 million gallons from this year, and the biofuel total is an increase of about 700 million gallons.

After years of delayed volume mandates and levels that didn't please either side, both ethanol and oil representatives disagreed with McCabe’s assessment that the program is getting back on track.

“For months, EPA has been saying it plans to put the program ‘back on track.’ Today’s proposal fails to do that,” Bob Dinneen, president of the renewable fuels association, said in a statement.

“The agency continues to cater to the oil industry by relying upon an illegal interpretation of its waiver authority and concern over a blend wall that the oil industry itself is creating.”

The National Biodiesel Board said the EPA’s biodiesel figure is also too low and underestimates industry growth. Biodiesel volumes under the proposal are 2.1 billion gallons, 100 million above 2016.

“We appreciate the EPA’s timeliness in releasing these volumes and its support for growing biodiesel use under the RFS, but this proposal significantly understates the amount of biodiesel this industry can sustainably deliver to the market,” said Anne Steckel, vice president of federal affairs at the biodiesel group.

The American Petroleum Institute (API) said the renewable fuel standard is still broken.

“Consumers’ interest should come ahead of ethanol interests,” Frank Macchiarola, downstream group director for API, said in a statement. “EPA is pushing consumers to use high ethanol blends they don’t want and that are not compatible with most cars on the road today. The administration is potentially putting the safety of American consumers, their vehicles and our economy at risk.”

The API argues that increasing ethanol volumes will spur increased use of E15 — gasoline with 15 percent ethanol — which isn’t approved for use in most cars on the road.

The EPA is required to make final its 2017 biofuel volumes by Nov. 30, a deadline it frequently misses.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; US: Iowa
KEYWORDS: antifracking; climatechange; energy; epa; epaethanol; epaoutofcontrol; ethanol; ethanolgasoline; ethanolscam; fracking; gasoline; globalwarming; globalwarminghoax; greenscam; iowa; janetmccabe; methane; obama; opec; petroleum; popefrancis; romancatholicism
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To: cornfedcowboy

It is all bad. If your only measuring stick on whether a policy is good or not is whether a specific person supports it, then you have no foundation to your principles at all. Trump is wrong on some issues just as Reagan, Bush, etc. were at times.


21 posted on 05/18/2016 2:51:44 PM PDT by JediJones (Looks like those clowns in Congress did it again. What a bunch of clowns.)
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To: jazusamo

This is PURE political corruption!


22 posted on 05/18/2016 3:00:59 PM PDT by stephenjohnbanker (My Batting Average( 1,000) since Nov 2014 (GOPe is that easy to read))
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To: DaxtonBrown

They gonna buy me a new HEMI? Didn’t think so.


23 posted on 05/18/2016 3:02:37 PM PDT by rktman (Enlisted in the Navy in '67 to protect folks rights to strip my rights. WTH?!)
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To: DaxtonBrown
Once you see what ethanol can do, you will know how insane the ethanol standards are.

Fortunately, here in Oklahoma, we can still buy real gas.

Eliminate the EPA, the Department of Education, the Department of Labor, the IRS, Department of the Interior, Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Education...

Lets return to the Constitution

24 posted on 05/18/2016 3:03:34 PM PDT by FatherofFive (Islam is evil and must be eradicated)
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To: CGASMIA68

“All Small engine owners/opreators/homeowners/landscapers/marine, and on and on need to band together and stop this crap.

I don’t know how to organize this type thing on a grand worthwhile scale or I would.”

I’d think that a centrally located station catering to those businesses would do well. I’ll have to ask the local landscape companies if they use “straight” gas, and if so where they get it.


25 posted on 05/18/2016 3:05:35 PM PDT by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra (Don't touch that thing Don't let anybody touch that thing!I'm a Doctor and I won't touch that thing!)
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To: jazusamo

After killing two lawnmowers in six years, I’ve finally started using non-ethanol gas in them. Two stations within a couple of miles of me carry it, about twenty cents more per gallon. Considering it for my cars, I haven’t had any ethanol-related problems but I don’t like the black crusty mold growing around the fuel filler behind the door. Is ethanol biodegradable? Must be, for mold to be feeding off of it.


26 posted on 05/18/2016 3:10:12 PM PDT by RegulatorCountry
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To: jazusamo
car manufactures already said they will NOT honor warranties on cars ruined by an increase in this crap
27 posted on 05/18/2016 3:11:53 PM PDT by Chode (Stand UP and Be Counted, or line up and be numbered - *DTOM* -w- NO Pity for the LAZY - Luke, 22:36)
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To: RegulatorCountry

I learned my lesson years ago on a nearly new edger, it’s been non-ethanol since then and haven’t had a problem.


28 posted on 05/18/2016 3:27:46 PM PDT by jazusamo (Have YOU Donated to Free Republic? https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: RegulatorCountry

Went searching and apparently it’s “Whiskey Fungus,” Baudoinia Compniacensis, more typically a problem in towns with large distilleries, it gets all over everything in such places. With 10% ethanol gasoline, it only builds up in areas where ethanol comes into contact, so around fuel fillers, on gas tanks, etcetera.


29 posted on 05/18/2016 3:31:45 PM PDT by RegulatorCountry
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To: jazusamo

I didn’t know where to get it other than “white gas” at a marina which is very expensive. The two regular gas stations with non-ethanol have popped up in recent years, or have started advertising it if they always had it.


30 posted on 05/18/2016 3:34:46 PM PDT by RegulatorCountry
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To: jazusamo

Sure is. Gums up your engines.


31 posted on 05/18/2016 3:36:46 PM PDT by sauropod (Beware the fury of a patient man.)
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To: doorgunner69
boar = boat. Damn dark keyboard.

When I read it I wondered what your boars had against ethanol other that it used up their FOOD!!!!

32 posted on 05/18/2016 3:39:07 PM PDT by terycarl (COMMON SENSE PREVAILS OVER ALL)
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To: jazusamo

Ethanol was NEVER a good idea, it is far more expensive to produce than is gasoline, it uses a food product for fuel, it is HEAVILY subsidized, it virtually destroys older engines, it delivers far fewer MPG’s than does gasoline, and it was another asinine liberal idea to save the environment.....which it will not do.


33 posted on 05/18/2016 3:54:19 PM PDT by terycarl (COMMON SENSE PREVAILS OVER ALL)
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To: jazusamo; 11B40; A Balrog of Morgoth; A message; ACelt; Aeronaut; AFPhys; AlexW; alrea; ...
The API argues that increasing ethanol volumes will spur increased use of E15 — gasoline with 15 percent ethanol — which isn’t approved for use in most cars on the road.

I say we take off and nuke Iowa from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.

DOOMAGE!

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34 posted on 05/18/2016 4:11:07 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (0bama's insane rantings prove that power deludes, and absolute power deludes absolutely.)
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To: DaxtonBrown

I’m trying to clean a carburetor that is encrusted with ethanol induced corrosion. Once you see what ethanol can do, you will know how insane the ethanol standards are.


Forcing people to buy more Ethanol is part of the plan to make America great. For the good of our nominee we need to get behind him on this.

“The EPA should ensure that biofuel ... blend levels match the statutory level set by Congress under the [renewable fuel standard],” -Donald Trump

“As president, I will encourage Congress to be cautious in attempting to charge and change any part of the RFS,”

“...My theme is ‘Make America Great Again.’ It’s an important part of it,” he said. -Donald Trump


35 posted on 05/18/2016 4:11:09 PM PDT by Idaho_Cowboy (A public service anouncement from the Ministry of Truth.)
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To: jazusamo

How about removing this sh*t completely?


36 posted on 05/18/2016 4:11:37 PM PDT by bigredkitty1 (March 5,2010. Rest in peace, sweet boy. I will miss you, Big Red.)
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To: fireman15

Vehicles are more ‘efficient’ because lighter (read less sturdy) materials are being used. Also, no full-size spare. At best, cars will have a ‘doughnut’. At worst, a tire repair kit. Only trucks and large SUV’s will come with a full spare.

Ethanol does nothing but pollute air and water, all the while destroying engines so people will be forced to buy a new one. One other ‘lovely’ side effect of all this corn being put into fuel tanks is the cost of corn goes up, making it harder for the poor to afford food. Corn should go into stomachs, not fuel tanks. This mandate shows how little the enviro-wackos and the DemocRATS truly care about the poor AND the environment.

Rant over.


37 posted on 05/18/2016 4:22:30 PM PDT by bigredkitty1 (March 5,2010. Rest in peace, sweet boy. I will miss you, Big Red.)
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To: jazusamo

Plus this plan keeps creating more and more pollutants. The democrats know this and keep pushing it because they promised the ethanol people they would make us use it if they produced it. Now it is like feeding the bears.


38 posted on 05/18/2016 5:22:28 PM PDT by maxwellsmart_agent (EEe)
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To: Sparticus

I’ll stick with my Weber 32/36 on my Willys jeep. It was such a pain to adapt, I refuse to change.


39 posted on 05/18/2016 5:46:49 PM PDT by wally_bert (I didn't get where I am today by selling ice cream tasting of bookends, pumice stone & West Germany)
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To: doorgunner69

Nobody wants a drunk boar.


40 posted on 05/18/2016 5:52:12 PM PDT by Oztrich Boy (bombastic selfdeclared billionaire with penchant for crony capitalism and state subsidies)
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