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The Ethanol requirement in the RFS sparked an ongoing debate. Image via wallstreetdaily.com
It doesn’t take much effort to find people complaining about the ethanol requirement in the federal government’s Renewable Fuel Standard. Most people can agree that the ethanol requirement was passed with good intentions. However, the debate over the results is ongoing and often quite vehement, especially in motorsports and the hot rodding community.
Th eRFS mandates minimum ethanol content in pump gas. Image via desmoineregister.com
For example, NASCAR seems to love it, constantly touting that they have a requirement in their national series for its use. Hobbyists and mechanics say that it causes a variety of problems when the budget for vehicle maintenance isn’t practically bottomless the way it is with NASCAR teams. Ethanol blended with gasoline causes an increase in water formation, which can also then create formic acid which is corrosive to most fuel system components, especially when the vehicle is parked for any length of time. Aftermarket performance parts, especially those produced before 2001, are especially susceptible to this.
NASCAR seems to like ethanol. Image via thinkbioenergy.com
Some states have begun listening to automotive enthusiasts and limiting, if not outright tossing out the ethanol blend requirement. You’d probably be surprised to find out who the leaders in the pushback are. Hawaii is one of these surprises.
A number of years ago the Hawaii legislature mandated an 85/15 rule for ethanol use throughout the islands, stating that it had to be in place all over the state by 2006, thinking it would help their struggling sugar cane industry. However, Hawaii governor David Ige just signed a bill into law (Hawaii S.B 717) repealing the earlier law. The reasoning behind the repeal is that the earlier law didn’t produce any noticeable economic benefit for the state and its import actually created an economic burden on the state’s residents.
E85 is pretty much the standard in most states right now. Image via businessinsider.com
Pennsylvania legislators are currently looking at repealing that state’s minimum ten percent cellulosic volume (ethanol) requirement as well. The bill, Penn. H.B 471, was recently passed by that state’s House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and is now in the Appropriation Committee where it will be considered before being sent to the House floor for a full chamber vote. Their reasoning is similar to that of the Hawaii legislature, citing issues the requirement raises with vehicle maintenance. If you live in Pennsylvania and support the repeal of the RFS, contact your state representative and voice your opinion.
Florida was the first state to fully repeal their ethanol mandate. Florida House Bill 4001 was signed into law in 2013 by Governor Rick Scott. Again, the reasoning was that it caused an undue economic burden on residents of the state.
Image via youtube.com
There’s another surprising development in the ethanol debate. Two senators, Toomey from PA and Feinstein from CA, have co-sponsored a piece of federal legislation calling for a repeal of the ethanol mandate at the federal level. Arizona’s Flake also recently signed on as a co-sponsor. However, this bill seems to have stalled shortly after the 114th Congressional session began. If you support this plan to repeal the ethanol mandate at a federal level, contact your Senators today.
