More Ethanol in Gas?

  • A corn ethanol refinery- The ethanol industry is asking the EPA to raise the legal limit of ethanol that can be added to regular gasoline from 10 to 15%. (Photo by Grant Hellman, Courtesy of US Department of Agriculture)

In the 1970s, the government limited the amount of ethanol that can be blended with gasoline at 10 percent. Now, a trade group called Growth Energy has asked the U-S EPA to raise the limit to 15 percent:

Transcript

In the 1970s, the government limited the amount of ethanol that can be blended with gasoline at 10 percent.

Now, a trade group called Growth Energy has asked the U-S EPA to raise the limit to 15 percent.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has already said that 12 or 13 percent ethanol is possible soon.

But, an environmental groups says, “slow down.”

Jeremy Martin is with the Union of Concerned Scientists. He says, first, the government should make sure that a higher-ethanol blend doesn’t damage pollution controls on vehicle engines.

“We don’t want to quickly make a change and then find out that we’ve caused a lot of damage to lots of vehicles on the road or caused a lot of air quality impacts.”

Supporters of the increased ethanol blend say it would help US corn farmers and reduce the demand for foreign oil. But opponents say ethanol made from corn does more harm to the environment than good.

For The Environment Report, I’m Chuck Quirmbach.

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