Engine Damage Archives - Smarter Fuel Future

For Conventional Ethanol, It’s Time to Take off the Training Wheels

Increased Imports and Consumer Costs. Must be the Biodiesel Mandate.

For the last 13 years, the RFS has been a lose-lose policy for American energy independence and consumer choice. The EPA is keeping the RFS on track for continued failure — despite mandating unattainable biofuel blending requirements year after year, the EPA has yet again proposed an increase in volume targets for 2019.

By now, you know about the failures of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Ethanol mandates were supposed to make the United States more energy independent, help our environment and bring an economic boom for farmers. Instead, they’ve done the exact opposite.

Worst Mandates in U.S. History

As the saying goes, “those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it,” so here’s a refresher on some of the worst (and weirdest) mandates in U.S. history.

Stop the Distractions – Fix the RFS

October 7, 2018

Consumer groups, environmentalists, food producers and refiners have joined a bipartisan group of 20 Senators in voicing their opposition to an Environmental Protection Agency plan that will significantly change Clean Air Act rules and pump more ethanol into the fuel supply. Expanding the sale of gasoline with 15 percent ethanol (E15) year-round, is misguided, one-sided and a completely inadequate “fix” to the serious, recurring problems plaguing the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

Last summer, a bill to change Clean Air Act rules for E15 couldn’t get out of the Senate. There wasn’t enough support. For EPA to try and do this exact same thing on their own is an overstep and complete contradiction of how they’ve interpreted the law in the past.

See for yourself what these groups are saying and consider that many serious issues that need to be addressed about increasing the presence of E15 in the fuel supply:

Nearly 3 out of 4 cars aren’t designed for E15

No cars made before model year 2012 are warrantied to use E15. Today, many manufacturer warranties still don’t approve of E15 in vehicles.

Chet Thompson / AFPM

E15 isn’t “one-size-fits-all”

Absolutely no boats, outdoor power equipment, motorcycles, snow machines, ATVs or other small engines can use E15 fuel.

David Kennedy / BoatUS

Thom Dammrich, National Marine Manufacturers Association

What about consumers?

EPA hasn’t sufficiently addressed the very real concerns about consumer misfueling, pump labeling inconsistencies and engine damage threats related to the expanded availability of E15 and blender pumps. EPA’s model plan for misfueling mitigation is dated 2012! This matters to millions of consumers.

David French / National Council of Restaurants

You get stuck with the bill

As E15 expands, taxpayers will continue footing much of the bill for the infrastructure upgrades needed to sell the fuel at gas stations. State and federal taxpayer-funded grants famously bankroll many of these projects.

Nan Swift / National Taxpayers Union

Free markets and mandates don’t mix

An E15 waiver has nothing to do with market demand or consumer choice (even in Iowa, E15 sales lag behind ethanol-free sales by about 4:1). It’s brazen to talk about things like “free markets” and “consumer choice” within the context of a government fuel mandate (RFS).

Ryan Alexander /Taxpayers for Common Sense

Unilaterally changing the rules for E15 fuel is a distraction from the serious work of RFS reform. No one wants a bigger mandate. No one wants band-aids on a broken policy. Stop the distractions. Fix the RFS.

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EPA Mandates More Ethanol in Fuel, Unlikely Partners Raise Concerns

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) just announced the final Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volumes for 2019, and it’s clear the agency is pushing us in the wrong direction.

Stop the E15 distractions. Fix The RFS

Twenty senators wrote to President Trump last week cautioning against an EPA plan to change Clean Air Act rules and pump more ethanol into the fuel market. Expanding the sale of gasoline with 15 percent ethanol (E15) year-round, is misguided, one-sided and a completely inadequate “fix” to the serious, recurring problems with the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

The ethanol industry has matured enough to ride alongside the big kids in fuel production. It’s time to remove the training wheels. Corn ethanol doesn’t need a mandate to remain competitive.

For the last 13 years, the RFS has been a lose-lose policy for American energy independence and consumer choice. The EPA is keeping the RFS on track for continued failure — despite mandating unattainable biofuel blending requirements year after year, the EPA has yet again proposed an increase in volume targets for 2019.

By now, you know about the failures of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Ethanol mandates were supposed to make the United States more energy independent, help our environment and bring an economic boom for farmers. Instead, they’ve done the exact opposite.

Worst Mandates in U.S. History

As the saying goes, “those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it,” so here’s a refresher on some of the worst (and weirdest) mandates in U.S. history.

The EPA just released its proposal for the 2019 Renewable Volume Obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). In a huge misstep, the agency has announced an increase in some of the mandates biggest flaws, the cellulosic and advanced biofuel requirements for 2019, and an increased target for 2020 biodiesel levels.

Lifestyles of RINs and Fraudsters

Ethanol Capital Not Sold on Flex Fuels

Guest Post: Is Your Engine Ready for Spring?

The first day of spring is finally here. After a long, cold winter, at least a few of us are starting to see warmer temperatures, which means it’s time to head to the garage or backyard shed to break out our lawn mowers and hedge trimmers. But before we get to work in the yard and start tackling our landscaping to-do lists, it’s important to ensure that all of our equipment is safe and ready to use. Fuel is a big part of this.

Five Things You Need to Know About RINs

When the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) was enacted in 2005 and later expanded in 2007, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) needed a way to ensure that refiners were blending the mandated amount of ethanol into America's gasoline supply - so they made one up.

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