The American Petroleum Institute reiterated its concerns about possible consequences from allowing ethanol blends of more than 10% in the nation’s gasoline supplies in comments it submitted to the US Environmental Protection Agency.
The Aug. 31 comments followed API’s previous joint submission with the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers on EPA’s proposed 2019 quotas for biomass-based diesel fuel and 2018 quotas for all other domestic motor fuels.
“There are serious vehicle and infrastructure compatibility issues with ethanol blends above 10%,” API Downstream and Industry Operations Director Frank J. Macchiarola said in a letter accompanying the comments.
Increases in gasoline demand that were anticipated when the RFS was expanded under the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act have not materialized, Macchiarola said. Commercialization of cellulosic biofuels has not grown at the rate Congress envisioned when it passed the law, he said.
“The statutory volumes set in [EISA] are unattainable, and mandating these levels could result in fuel supply disruptions that damage our economy,” he said. “Congress provided EPA with waiver authority to reduce the RFS volumes, thereby avoiding the potential negative impacts on America’s fuel supply and preventing harm to American consumers.”
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