Energy Tomorrow Blog

E15 and Boaters: Still at Risk of Being Left High and Not So Dry

consumers  e15  ethanol  renewable fuel standard 

Mark Green
Posted September 18, 2018

For some time we’ve worked to spread the word about the potential risks to U.S. consumers posed by E15 fuel, which contains 50 percent more ethanol than E10 fuel that’s standard across the country. Now, with the administration thinking about facilitating E15 sales year-round, it’s a good time to revisit some of the specific ways E15 can negatively impact consumers. Such as boat owners.

More »

New Ad: E15 Push Puts Consumers at Risk

consumers  e15  renewable fuel standard  ethanol  gasoline  refiners 

Mark Green
Posted September 7, 2018

With the Trump administration considering a move that would push more E15 fuel into the nation's gasoline supply, API has a new ad warning that consumers could bear the risks of additional volumes of the higher-ethanol blend.

The ad touches on points we’ve made for years about the infusion of E15 (see here, here and here), spurred by the flawed Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The administration is thinking about facilitating the sale of E15 year-round. Currently, the Clean Air Act requires that E15 meet gasoline volatility requirements in the summertime. Key points in the ad: E15 can damage the engines and fuel systems of vehicles that weren’t designed to use it; nearly three out of four vehicles on the road today weren’t made to use E15; and automobile manufacturers have said using E15 could void car warranties.

More »

RFS is Still Broken, and Consumers Still Need Protection

renewable fuel standard  rfs34  consumers  fuels 

Jessica Lutz
Posted August 17, 2018

With EPA receiving public input this week on its proposed ethanol volumes for 2019 under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), it’s important to stay focused on the potential negative impacts of a broken Washington policy — on consumers and the fuel market.

Yes, we know that America’s energy renaissance in natural gas and oil production has accomplished the program’s aim of reducing U.S. reliance on imported crude oil. And we know that the RFS’ original goal of developing a commercially viable supply of cellulosic biofuel hasn’t become a reality. Even putting those (very large) factors aside, it is still very clear that lawmakers must to work together to find meaningful and long-term solutions to the broken RFS mandate – because it could bring very real harm to the nation’s consumers through higher energy costs and damage to the engines in their vehicles.

This week, API Downstream Group Director Frank Macchiarola told reporters that Congress needs to protect American consumers from potential risks posed by RFS mandates.

More »

EPA Sidesteps RFS Problems in its 2018 Volumes

renewable fuel standard  rfs34  ethanol  epa  e15 

Mark Green
Posted November 30, 2017

EPA is out with ethanol use requirements for 2018 under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), and the big takeaway is that a broken program remains in place – its original purpose superseded by surging domestic oil production and U.S. consumers still at risk. 

More »

Congress Still Needs to Protect Consumers From RFS

renewable fuel standard  rfs34  consumers  ethanol 

Sabrina Fang
Posted November 10, 2017

On Nov. 30, EPA is scheduled to finalize 2018 ethanol volumes for the U.S. fuel supply under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Yet, the RFS remains a broken program that’s also outdated, its original purposes overtaken by the U.S. energy renaissance. This week, API Downstream Group Director Frank Macchiarola told reporters that Congress needs to protect American consumers from potential risks posed by RFS mandates.

More »

U.S. Energy Renaissance, RFS and Needed Reform

renewable fuel standard  consumers  ethanol  blend wall  e15  e85 

Mark Green
Posted August 1, 2017

With EPA receiving public input this week on its proposed ethanol-use volumes for 2018, it’s important to see that America’s energy renaissance in natural gas and oil production is the biggest reason for the progress the U.S. has made toward those RFS objectives. 

More »

Flawed RFS Needs Solutions, Not Distractions

renewable fuel standard  rfs34  consumers  ethanol  e15 

Sabrina Fang
Posted June 13, 2017

This week members of the U.S. Senate will consider legislation that would serve to expand the presence of E15 fuel in the marketplace. Unfortunately, the bill is a distraction from fundamental problems with the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), which is forcing more and more ethanol into the nation’s fuel supply. Research has shown higher ethanol blends, such as E15, could damage vehicle engines and fuel pump systems, socking consumers with the repair bills. The RFS needs to be repealed or significantly reformed, to protect U.S. consumers. As EPA prepares to announce ethanol mandates for 2018 under the RFS, API Downstream Group Director Frank Macchiarola briefed reporters on the flawed program.

More »

Poll: Potential RFS Impacts Concern U.S. Voters

renewable fuel standard  rfs34  consumers  e15  ethanol  blend wall 

Sabrina Fang
Posted April 7, 2017

A new national API poll shows that American voters have serious concerns about the Renewable Fuel Standard and its mandates for ever-increasing levels of ethanol in the nation’s fuel supply. Key findings from the survey of 1,000 registered voters include 74 percent agreeing that federal regulations could contribute to increased costs for gasoline to consumers and 68 percent who're concerned about government regulations that would increase the amount of ethanol in gasoline.

More »

100 Days: U.S. Energy Renaissance Overtakes Flawed RFS

100-days  renewable fuel standard  rfs34  consumers  ethanol 

Mark Green
Posted February 21, 2017

There might not be a sharper contrast with the innovation- and market-driven success of the U.S. energy renaissance than the flawed federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) – a program rooted in the era of U.S. energy scarcity that has been mostly closed by the ongoing surge in domestic oil and natural gas production.

More »

Shifting RFS Responsibility Could Impact Consumers

renewable fuel standard  rfs34  consumers  ethanol 

Mark Green
Posted February 16, 2017

Changing the point of obligation under the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) – moving it closer to U.S. consumers – continues to distract from the real problems with the RFS that Congress should address, either by repealing or significantly reforming the program. Meanwhile, with a public commenting period on the proposal ending next week, a number of groups caution that the change could result in motorists paying more for gasoline.

More »