Ask the Editors: Should We Oppose E15 Gasoline?
I come from a corn producing area and have been hearing a lot lately about gasoline moving up to E15 being a good thing for the economy & environment. Why is the AMA going out of their way to fight against this?
The short answer: It means big trouble for small engines. Politicians don’t seem to care that motorcyclists and ATVs could be seriously damaged running higher-ethanol fuel blends such as E15 but the ripple effect would include damages to machines nearly everyone relies on as well; everything from lawn mowers to chainsaws.
The reason this is a hotly debated subject of late is that the Renewable Fuel Standard proposals announced May 29 by the EPA would force the widespread availability of higher-ethanol fuel blends. If this weren’t troubling enough, at the same time, the U.S. Department of Agriculture unveiled a $100 million plan to double the number of higher-blend renewable fuel pumps to market E15 and E85.
“The EPA calls for higher ethanol blended fuels, and the USDA spends taxpayer dollars to make it happen, despite knowing that none of the estimated 22 million motorcycles and ATVs in use in the United States is approved to use E15 or higher ethanol blends,” said Wayne Allard, AMA vice president for government relations. “Using those fuels in motorcycles and ATVs is illegal and may cause engine and fuel system damage and void the manufacturer’s warranty.”
The good news is the EPA opened a comment period to allow the public to voice its opinion on the proposed rule. The AMA, which has gotten 8,000 signatures and counting opposing these proposals, plans to submit every name and address with its comments to the EPA on July 26.
Anyone can sign the AMA petition by visiting the AMA Federal Action Center here: http://bit.ly/1J4jGLG
