Ethanol is the energy policy fix that never quite works. It’s supported by a 45-cent-per-gallon subsidy, can’t be proven to be environmentally beneficial, and could ruin your engine if too much of it is blended with gasoline.
The EPA requested comments on a petition by Growth Energy filed earlier this year, to allow an increase in the allowable ethanol content of gasoline to rise from 10 percent to 15 percent. EPA has until December 1 to respond to the petition. But some Senators have supported an amendment that would require EPA to grant a waiver to allow ethanol blending up to 15 percent.
The big automobile manufacturer trade associations both expressed concern about raising the allowable ethanol content of gasoline to 15 percent. But recently, the automakers have moved to support additional research into the consequences of increasing the ethanol content of gasoline.
