Washington, D.C. – 7/18/2014 - A proposal now being considered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to cut the amount of corn ethanol required in gasoline would lower greenhouse gas emissions by 3 million metric tons, according to a new report released by the Environmental Working Group.
If the EPA reduces corn ethanol by 1.39 billion gallons as proposed, it would prevent as much greenhouse gas pollution as taking 580,000 cars off the road annually, EWG found.
The current mandate, known as the Renewable Fuel Standard, requires oil companies to increase so-called renewable fuels in gasoline every year, from 9 billion gallons in 2008 to 36 billion gallons in 2022. For the first time since this law took effect, the EPA has proposed to reduce the amount of corn-based ethanol used as fuel for the nation’s cars and trucks.
“The Obama administration has a real opportunity to scale back the corn ethanol mandate and make a significant contribution in the fight against climate change,” said Emily Cassidy, EWG research analyst and co-author of EWG’s new report, Ethanol’s Broken Promise. “As our research shows, corn-based ethanol is actually worse for the climate than regular gasoline.”
Click here to read the full report.
Blending corn ethanol into gasoline has significantly increased greenhouse gas emissions because higher demand for ethanol for fuel has encouraged farmers to plow up wetlands and grasslands to grow corn. This increased agricultural activity releases more soil carbon into the atmosphere. Corn requires intensive fertilizer, which breaks down to emit nitrous oxide, another greenhouse gas, according to EWG’s study.
EWG estimates that 85 million to 236 million metric tons of greenhouse gases were emitted from 2008 to 2011, when more than 23 million acres of grassland and wetlands were converted to grow crops. Researchers found that most studies that claim the corn ethanol mandate reduces emissions do not properly account for the resources needed to improve crop yields and significantly underestimate the emissions from conversion of land to corn production driven by the federal ethanol mandate.
Since President Obama took office in January of 2009, his administration has made substantial progress to combat climate change. New fuel economy standards and a 10-fold increase in solar energy production have helped reduce U.S. greenhouse gas pollution to the lowest level in almost 20 years.
“In the absence of any real effort by Congress to address climate change, President Obama has stepped up repeatedly, doing more than any previous President to lower greenhouse gas emissions,” Scott Faber, EWG senior vice president for government affairs, said. “If the administration stands strong against the ethanol lobby and implements EPA’s proposed ethanol rollback, it will be a huge victory for the environment.”
Source: environmental working group
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Showing posts with label Ethanol. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ethanol. Show all posts
Group says ethanol blend would be nightmare
(EWG) 2/19/2013 - The Environmental Working Group recently welcomed the introduction of legislation to block the use of gasoline containing 15 percent corn ethanol by U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and David Vitter (R-La.), calling it a good first step in addressing concerns about the broader use of higher ethanol blends.
Currently most gasoline contains no more than 10 percent corn ethanol, but the Environmental Protection Agency decided last year to permit the use of the higher blend, known as E15, in cars and trucks made since 2001.
“E15 is a consumer nightmare waiting to happen,” EWG Vice President of Government Affairs Scott Faber said. “If every major carmaker, AAA and the Coast Guard are all saying the same thing, it’s time for Congress to take notice.”
E15 has been found to cause engine damage in tests conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy and manufacturers of boats and cars. Chrysler, Toyota and other auto makers have that said that their warranties will not cover E15-related claims, and others warn that E15 does not meet the fuel requirements detailed in their owners’ manuals.
The American Automobile Association has called on EPA to suspend the sale of E15 due to the likelihood of confusion at the pump and costly vehicle damage. In July 2009, the U.S. Coast Guard told the EPA that it, too, opposed the introduction of E15, citing possible safety risks to recreational boaters.
Currently most gasoline contains no more than 10 percent corn ethanol, but the Environmental Protection Agency decided last year to permit the use of the higher blend, known as E15, in cars and trucks made since 2001.
“E15 is a consumer nightmare waiting to happen,” EWG Vice President of Government Affairs Scott Faber said. “If every major carmaker, AAA and the Coast Guard are all saying the same thing, it’s time for Congress to take notice.”
E15 has been found to cause engine damage in tests conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy and manufacturers of boats and cars. Chrysler, Toyota and other auto makers have that said that their warranties will not cover E15-related claims, and others warn that E15 does not meet the fuel requirements detailed in their owners’ manuals.
The American Automobile Association has called on EPA to suspend the sale of E15 due to the likelihood of confusion at the pump and costly vehicle damage. In July 2009, the U.S. Coast Guard told the EPA that it, too, opposed the introduction of E15, citing possible safety risks to recreational boaters.
Source: Environmental Working Group
Subjects
automobiles,
environment,
Ethanol,
fuel
Decision On Tossing Ethanol Mandate Applauded
(EWG) - Washington - 2/4/2013 - A U.S. Appeals Court decision to throw out the 2012 federal mandate requiring refiners to blend cellulosic ethanol into the domestic gasoline supply should be wake-up call to Congress that the nation’s biofuels policy is in sore need of reform, said Environmental Working Group Vice President for Government Affairs Scott Faber.
The U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. sided on Friday with gasoline refiners who argued that requirements for using cellulosic ethanol under the Renewable Fuel Standard were based on unrealistic production forecasts by the Environmental Protection Agency.
The U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. sided on Friday with gasoline refiners who argued that requirements for using cellulosic ethanol under the Renewable Fuel Standard were based on unrealistic production forecasts by the Environmental Protection Agency.
“The ethanol mandate has been a disaster for most farmers, consumers, taxpayers and the environment. The court's decision to strike down large parts of the mandate creates a rare opportunity to reform the mandate to help consumers and the environment and to pave the way for truly sustainable biofuels. Now is the time to reform the ethanol mandate to reduce the amount of food and feed being diverted to fuel and to create a level playing field for promising new fuels that don't pit our energy needs against our food and environmental needs," Faber said.
