Ethanol Claim a Dangerous Combination of Misinformation, Power

Maine, Opinions, Policy

July 8, 2016

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by Doug Berven (Portland Press Herald/POET) Gov. LePage and his allies need to look at the facts before alleging that there’s a link between the fuel additive and Maine’s drug crisis.

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Most importantly, ethanol replaces petroleum-based toxins such as benzene, toluene and xylene. In fact, many states require an ethanol blend under federal law to help them meet standards set by the Clean Air Act, because they know it significantly reduces tailpipe emissions.

Without ethanol in the fuel supply, we are left with more toxic alternatives, which have been proven to cause cancer and smog. For example, ethanol provided the clean alternative to MTBE, which Maine banned in 2004 because it’s been proven to contaminate groundwater.

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Under normal circumstances, one might imagine that an executive order governing the state’s energy mix would reflect a serious review of the facts. Unfortunately, reports indicate that Gov. LePage’s recent efforts to discourage the use of ethanol were driven by a laundry list of bizarre claims by Beth O’Connor, a member of the Maine House of Representatives, and a retired mechanic from South Berwick. As a result, Maine could find itself with higher fuel costs, polluted air, greater dependency on foreign oil and fewer choices at the pump.

Maine drivers have been able to benefit from more affordable options at the gasoline pump, saving anywhere from 50 cents to $1.50 a gallon during periods of high oil prices. Now is not the time to roll back the clock by adding chemicals that produce cancer-causing emissions back into gasoline, once again becoming more dependent on foreign oil, and paying higher gas prices. The governor and his allies need to take a look at the facts, talk to some real experts and stop implementing policies based on half-understood rumors. READ MORE / MORE / MORE and MORE (Bangor Daily News)

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