Clean Octane Alliance Sees Open Road for Higher Blends

(Urban Air Initiative) ... South Dakota Farmers Union President Doug Sombke and Urban Air Initiative President Dave VanderGriend said an update to the master list of future federal regulatory actions called the Unified Agenda does not include a previously proposed rule that would make any blends above E15 illegal to use in conventional vehicles. Known as the REGS (Renewable Enhancement and Growth) Rule, it would have codified a proposal that would have limited any future blends at a time when future vehicle efficiency requirements will need low carbon, high octane fuels that ethanol can provide in blends of 25-40%.

“We certainly appreciate the Trump pledge to address seasonal restrictions on E15 but it is critical to make sure this vapor pressure relief applies to all blends above 10% given the limited demand E15 would provide and the fact that blends like E30 will provide substantially greater health benefits at lower costs,” said Sombke.

The National Farmers Union, The Farmers Union Enterprise, the Urban Air Initiative, and the Clean Fuels Development Coalition formed a Clean Octane Alliance in recent months to promote mid-level ethanol blends with a particular focus on the fuel economy and GHG rule proposed by the Trump Administration. NFU and UAI had led the effort to have the REGS rule dropped or modified and wrote then EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt informing him NFU would challenge this provision in court if necessary. According to Sombke, future demand from E15 will likely be slightly more than 1 billion gallons over current levels in the next 5 years. He argues that would represent a new corn demand of just 300-400 million bushels that is not nearly enough to turn around the falling farm economy.

Moreover, said Sombke, the increase from E15 may not even cover the demand loss from the small refiner waivers being granted by EPA that have reduced the Renewable Fuel Standard requirements by more than 1 billion gallons. “ I think the ag and ethanol industries were so focused on the RFS and related issues that this provision limiting ethanol blends might have slipped by”, said Sombke. “At NFU we have recognized the future is in much higher blends which is why we were all over EPA to pull back this ill advised rule.” According to SDFU analysis, a new octane standard of 98-100 as is being discussed at EPA could result in increased ethanol demand of 15 billion gallons and corn demand of 4-5 billion bushels.

UAI President Dave VanderGriend said ethanol blends in the 25-30% range can provide a significant octane boost and importantly, reduce the toxic carcinogens currently used by refiners to boost octane. “We are demonstrating the effectiveness of E30 across the Midwest and the savings to consumers while protecting their health is tremendous. We are showing that conventional automobiles are performing perfectly with this cleaner, homegrown fuel and EPA has no grounds to limit the amount of ethanol we can use,” he said.

The Rule was moved from the pending action category to what they call “long term action”, indicating it is unlikely to be brought forward. VanderGriend said they intend to monitor the situation but are encouraged that their efforts seem to have produced results. READ MORE