Don’t Fall For Ethanol Spin

Biofuels Engine Design, Business News/Analysis, Federal Regulation, Infrastructure, Marine/Boat Bio and Renewable Fuel/MGO/MDO/SMF, Massachusetts, Opinions, Policy

September 12, 2016

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by Bill Delahunt (Coastal Angler) … There is a lot to like about ethanol. It displaces cancer-causing chemicals in gasoline like benzene. It replaced MTBE, which polluted drinking water throughout the 1990s. Just this year, ExxonMobil was required to pay millions for the delivery of clean water to a local elementary school in Worcester County, Massachusetts. And every gallon of ethanol used is a gallon of foreign oil not used.

Some voices in the boating community say these benefits come with a cost, often pointing to water, hose, or fuel degradation issues for marine engines. But even by the low standards of today’s political discourse, there is an extraordinary gap between fact and fiction on this issue.

The ethanol blend at your local gas station and marina is the same blend (E10) that every major manufacturer – Kawasaki, Mercury Marine, OMC, Pleasurecraft, Tigershark, Tracker, Honda,Yamaha, and others – approves for use in its marine engines.

And ethanol doesn’t attract water. Mercury Marine called E10 a “superior marine fuel” in comparison to ethanol-free gasoline because it helps keep the fuel system dry. Perhaps that’s why the National Boat Racing Association exclusively uses E10 for all their races.

Honest brokers in boating admit that E10 is a good fuel. But new 15 percent blends (E15) tend to make them nervous. Except that E15 is not certified for marine engines. Truth be told, you cannot even buy E15 in the Northeast as of yet. When it comes, federal law requires that it be sold with a giant orange sticker to prevent misfueling. You won’t miss it.

If you want to know the real story, the fuss over ethanol and boats is actually part of an oil-industry funded PR campaign designed to weaken support for renewable fuels.

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Simply put, more of our fuel dollars are staying here.

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It is disappointing, however, to see BoatUS and the National Marine Manufacturers Association(NMMA) regurgitating myths about ethanol. Facts are facts, and these groups are being duped. READ MORE and MORE / MORE (Cape Cod Times) and MORE (The Log)

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