Since its founding in 1966,
BoatUS has been the voice of recreational boat owners on Capitol
Hill and before the federal agencies in Washington. With the strength
of over half a million members behind us, our mission has been to fight unfair
federal taxes, fees and regulations that single out boat owners
and to work with state agencies to promote boating laws that make
sense.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ethanol Information
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 21, 2011
EPA allows more automobiles to use E15
A recent ruling by the United States Environmental Protection Agency could lead to more ethanol in the nation’s fuel supply. The Agency has expanded the waiver it granted last fall to allow additional automobiles to be fueled with E15. Under the recent ruling, cars from model years 2001 and newer can use fuel with the higher ethanol levels. It is still illegal to use any fuel with greater than 10% ethanol in other power applications, including marine engines.
A number of additional regulatory steps will need to be completed before E15 appears in the marketplace. Boaters are cautioned to always determine what fuel is being dispensed before it is placed in their boat.
January 4, 2011
BoatU.S. Comments on EPA regulations to mitigate misfueling of boat engines with E15
BoatU.S. recently submitted comments to the Environmental Protections Agency in response to a proposed rulemaking designed to mitigate the impact misfueling with E15 in to engines for which it is not approved. This rule is necessitated by the recent approval of higher levels of ethanol in the nation's fuel supply. For a copy of the comments go to the following web link:
The Environmental Protection Agency has issued a decision to allow the use of E15, gasoline containing up to 15% ethanol, in model year 2007 and newer automobiles. This is one step in the process of allowing more ethanol in the nation's fuel supply.
It is also expected that a decision on the use of E15 in model years 2001 to 2006 automobiles will be issued in November. No decision was made on the use of E15 in other engines, including boat engines.
In response to a call to action by BoatU.S. over 15,000 boaters have sent messages to President Obama about allowing higher levels of ethanol in the nation's gasoline supply. It is expect that the EPA will issue a response to a petition by Growth Energy in the next few days.
September 27, 2010
Last year, a record number of boaters asked EPA to test marine engines before allowing up to 15% (E15) ethanol in gasoline. This testing has not been completed. Now, in late September or early October, EPA is getting ready to announce their decision. We expect they will allow E15 for some engines and not others. This will create different fuels with different availability, prices, and a lot of consumer confusion.
BoatU.S. appreciates and embraces the need to diversify our country's fuel and energy sources. However, we are concerned that EPA may put the "cart before the horse" by granting increased ethanol before we know what it will do in our marine engines. Many boaters, having suffered through the last ethanol transition, agree that we should learn from this recent history, and completely understand what the new fuel will do before approving its use in boats. It may turn out to be harmless, but what if it's not? Shouldn't we wait for the facts before making the decision?
Please help today. Go to Follow the Science.org and let President Obama know your concerns about ethanol and ask him to get the science first, before giving EPA the approval for more ethanol in your gasoline.
For more information about ethanol from the EPA go to the following web site:
BoatU.S. joins broad industry coalition calling for science first when deciding on more ethanol in fuel
BoatU.S. joined 35 other organizations in sending a message to Majority Leader Harry Reid regarding efforts to force EPA to allow higher levels of ethanol in the nation's fuel supply. For a copy of the letter please go to the following link:
About 75% of the gasoline available in the US now contains ethanol, at up to 10% concentration. Last year, Growth Energy, a group of ethanol manufacturers, formally asked EPA to consider allowing up to 15% ethanol in our country’s fuel stream. In the Renewable Fuels Act of 2007, the ethanol industry was mandated by law to produce more ethanol, and now the manufacturers say they are facing a “blend wall” where they can not sell all that they are required to produce.
EPA opened an official comment period on Growth Energy’s request on April 16th, 2009, and received tens of thousands of comments. Many of these comments were from boaters and the marine industry, asking for EPA to understand what effect increased ethanol will have on marine engines, before allowing a different fuel. There is a wide array of organizations concerned about more ethanol in fuel, including BoatU.S., much of the marine industry, outdoor power equipment users, food growers and some car manufacturers.
EPA has said that they expect to make a determination on the higher blend of fuel by late summer.
In Congress, S. 1666, The Mid Level Ethanol Blends Act, introduced by Senator Susan Collins from Maine, calls for EPA to report to Congress on the impact of the introduction of higher levels of ethanol in the nation’s fuel supply. This bill now carries 6 additional cosponsors, including Senator Richard Burr (NC), Senator Ben Cardin (MD), Senator Mary Landrieu (LA), Senator David Vitter (LA), Senator Jim Webb (VA), and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (RI). We encourage anyone concerned about getting the facts before more ethanol is allowed in our fuel to ask your Senator to sign on to this bill. Go to:
• The current 10-percent ethanol blend known as E-10 has caused significant problems for marine engines and boat fuel systems, in some cases necessitating expensive replacement of in-hull fiberglass fuel tanks.
• EPA should not approve E-15 before doing a through study of its impact on marine and other non-road engines.
• No boat in use or on the market today has been designed — or is warranted — to run fuel with greater than 10-percent ethanol.
April 14 , 2010
Boaters should ask their Senators to sponsor S. 1666, legislation to require the Administrator of the EPA to satisfy certain conditions before allowing higher levels of ethanol in the fuel supply.
Ask your two Senators to sponsor S. 1666, legislation introduced by Senator Collins of Maine, that would require EPA to perform testing and report on the impact of mid-level ethanol blends on non-road engines which includes boat motors. A copy of this legislation can be found here. You can find contact information for your Senators at the following web link:
You could also request your member of the House of Represenative sponsor similar legislation. To find out who is your Representative go to the following web link:
The Ethanol Debate, Part Two Margaret Podlich of BoatUS Argues Against E15
As the EPA considers whether to raise the limit for ethanol in blended gasoline to 15 percent, Margaret Podlich, Vice President of Governmental Affairs for BoatUS, argues that more testing is needed first.
Recorded: Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Running Time: 30 minutes
The Environmental Protection Agency has delayed a decision on a petition from the ethanol industry to allow a greater amount of ethanol to be mixed with gasoline. A BoatU.S. statement about this decision can be found here: EPA Delays Decision on Ethanol Press Release
A copy of the notice from the EPA can be found here
November 2, 2009
Ethanol Legislation Could Protect Your Engine
A bill now in Congress, S. 1666, could help ensure that all ethanol-blended gasoline sold is compatible with boat engines currently in use as well all other types of gasoline engines.
S.1666, the “Mid-Level Ethanol Blends Act of 2009” requires the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to study the compatibility of blended fuels with current engines and fuel systems before it could allow ethanol concentrations higher than 10-percent.
The current, 10-percent ethanol blend known as E-10 has caused significant problems for marine engines and boat fuel systems, in some cases necessitating expensive replacement of in-hull fiberglass fuel tanks. No boat in use or on the market today has been designed — or is warranted — to run fuel with greater than 10-percent ethanol.
S. 1666 is supported by BoatU.S. and a diverse coalition of organizations, including environmental groups, engine manufacturers, food groups, consumer groups, and refiners. To ask your Senators to cosponsor S. 1666, go to this link.
For more information on the ethanol problem, see National Marine Manufactures Association information web site at this link.
May 18, 2009
Comment Period Extended to July 20 - EPA has extended the comment
period for E15 to July 20. Please take the time now to email EPA, if
you haven’t already, asking them to test E15 before allowing
it for use.
Click
Here To read the BoatUS Article - A Serious Problem, A Corny
Solution
Click
Here To read Ethanol Industry's 15% Solution Raises Concern
from May 8, 2009
Click
Here To read Laboratory Will Not Certify Pumps for Gas With
15% Ethanol from May 8, 2009
Click
Here To read EPA Considers Higher Ethanol Mix from April 17,
2009
Click
Here To read A Slugfest Over Higher Ethanol Blends from March
6, 2009
Click
here to view the March 26th, 2009 Coalition letter to EPA from
BoatUS and others!
Click
here to view BoatUS Press Release: Boaters Urged to Speak Up
on Ethanol Increase Before July 20 Deadline
