New White Paper Identifies Opportunities for Increased Ethanol Demand: Growing Beyond the RFS Keys on Regulatory Relief

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January 18, 2016

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(Ethanol Across America) Despite the effectiveness of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) in providing an entry ramp to the fuel market, the potential for corn ethanol to contribute to meeting a range of public policy objectives has only scratched the surface, according to a new White Paper released here today.

In order for corn ethanol production and use to move beyond the limits imposed by the RFS, the key is regulatory relief, writes the author of the paper, David Vander Griend, founder and CEO of ICM Inc, and president of the Urban Air Initiative.

The 15 billion gallon per year corn cap under the RFS is only relevant to the issuance of RINS (renewable credits) says VanderGriend and there is a huge market opportunity beyond the RFS. Specifically, he identifies the following as critical building blocks, all of which are within the ability of the US EPA to address:

• Correcting the MOVES model and the life cycle analysis of corn ethanol

• Removing unnecessary vapor pressure restrictions that limit higher blend volumes

• Raising minimum octane levels in gasoline while enforcing limits on toxic aromatics

• Streamlining the process for the certification of higher blends like E30

• Reinstating flex fuel vehicle credits

Among other things, writes VanderGriend, these actions would allow automobile manufacturers to utilize ethanol’s high octane value and offer refiners more options.

He also keys on the importance of real world testing of fuels and the need to protect public health by reducing harmful emissions. Importantly, he explains that the dramatic increases in corn yields could create a surplus beyond our ability to store and export what could be billions of bushels of carryover.

The White Paper is part of an ongoing series and was published by the Clean Fuels Development Coalition’s Ethanol Across America education campaign. It is available on line at www.ethanolacrossamerica.net and www.cleanfuelsdc.org. Hard copies are also available, for further information contact Douglas A. Durante at cfdcinc@aol.com

Ethanol Across America is a non-profit, non-partisan education campaign of the Clean Fuels Foundation and is sponsored by industry, government, and private interests; For more information, log on to www.ethanolacrossamerica.net READ MORE download report

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