More Education Needed on Ethanol Levels in Fuel and Blender Pumps

Before any discussion on ethanol, landscape contractors need to understand where things stand now. Currently there are two legal fuels containing ethanol sold in the U.S. Any gasoline blended with 0 to 10 percent ethanol is legal for use in all automobiles and all equipment engines. Any gasoline blended with 10 to 85 percent ethanol is legal for use only in “flex-fuel” automobiles.

With passage of the Energy Independence and Security Act by Congress in December, 2007, a substantial increase in the use of ethanol and cellulosic fuels is required in the U.S. fuels marketplace. The new law increases the mandate from 9 billion gallons in 2008 to 36 billion gallons in 2022. Corn-based ethanol use is capped at 15 billion gallons. 

To support this call for more ethanol usage, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are working together to test the effects of higher levels of ethanol containing fuels on automobiles and all engine equipment.

Market Confusion
Some states are propelling the Energy Independence mandate to move more swiftly. Minnesota, for example, has passed legislation that mandates the future use of E-20 (fuel containing 20 percent ethanol) fuel in the state. In early March 2008, the State of Minnesota and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) released parts of a screening study in response to the legislation passed by the State of Minnesota requiring the use of 20 percent volume ethanol blended gasoline (E20). 

What the study did not address were the potential effects of its use on the hundreds of millions of existing lawnmowers, generators, chainsaws, utility vehicles, tractors, tillers, trimmers, chippers, snowmobiles and all other small-engine equipment. Fuel containing more than E10 is finding its way into the fuels marketplace; some fuel retailers are dispensing this fuel by mistake, confusion or fraud. 

For example, Iowa’s Attorney General has brought legal action against a chain of gasoline stations that were buying E85 fuel and selling it as E10 and defrauding customers. E85 is cheaper than E10 as ethanol has less energy content than gasoline. Customers could have unknowingly voided manufacturer warranties and damaged their automobiles or other engine equipment. And, one Catalina Island marina mistakenly mixed fuels and sold E40 as gasoline to boaters. Boaters were advised to flush their fuel tanks. 

Another area of concern has been the use of self-directed blender pumps. At issue is the fact that current blender pumps allow users to select various levels of ethanol when dispensing fuel. Yet, current law only allows ethanol levels from up to 10 percent (E10) for general purpose fuel and up to 85 percent (E85) for use in “flexible fuel” automobiles. 

However, consumers see the lower cost for ethanol and with the cost of gasoline hurting everyone’s pocketbook, they “dial-up” the amount of ethanol – forgetting that you need more ethanol to get the same amount of power, and they now have put their vehicle or equipment at risk.

Believing that many pumps are inadequately labeled, AllSAFE asked EPA to send an enforcement letter to fuel retailers. EPA did issue an enforcement letter stating that “gasoline containing more than 10 percent ethanol may cause damage to certain emissions control devices and systems, and increased emissions from gasoline-only vehicles and engines. For this reason, the Clean Air Act prohibits retail gasoline stations from selling gasoline blended with more than 10 percent ethanol for use in gasoline-only vehicles and engines.”  The letter also states that EPA will be taking steps to investigate the retail distribution of non-compliant fuel.

As a member of AllSAFE, an organization that speaks on fuel-related legislation for more than 250 million Americans who own and operate more than 400 million products, the above developments have led to a substantial increase in ethanol production and it is finding its way into the marketplace, legally and otherwise, and causing troubling effects for users. 

In order to clear up any confusion, more education is in order. Recently, the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, in conjunction with the National FFA Foundation and the National Association of Agricultural Educators, sponsored an educational Webinar for teachers on the use and impact of ethanol containing fuels to better inform the public about the issue. The OPEI, the DOE and the RFA were participants in the educational Webinar. 

Better Testing
Our main concern at AllSAFE is just as our name implies – the safety of more than 400 million products currently in use, including chainsaws, lawnmowers, motor vehicles, motorcycles, ATVs, snowmobiles, generators and related vehicles and equipment.

When ethanol levels are raised, small engines react differently and in a potentially dangerous way – boat engines may seize up and gas may leak, the RPM increases on chainsaws as the clutch and chain are constantly engaged, and rubber and other components in small engine products grow corroded. All of this can lead to engine and product failure, and potentially, safety hazards.

First and foremost, increasing ethanol levels in gasoline above current limits is a safety and product liability issue. Neither the small engine industry nor vehicle manufacturers can risk customers getting hurt. Second, vehicle and product failures may cause non-compliance with federal and state laws. If problems occur, consumers and the government may blame the manufacturer, not the fuel. This could have a disastrous impact on manufacturers, but if the fuel does get blamed, it could create a consumer backlash against ethanol in general. AllSAFE wants to prevent both of these potential outcomes.

Product manufacturers have voiced strong concerns about consumer safety in the use of mid-level ethanol fuel use in their products. Therefore, DOE and EPA must test mid-level ethanol fuels in a wide-range of legacy equipment to understand its possible effects that could pose a safety risk to consumers and educate consumers about those risks.

So, what do we advocate? AllSAFE recommends fully studying the impacts of blends like E20 before taking any steps to adopt the fuel. After this latest round of studies, we want to work with the DOE and EPA to conduct appropriate studies using scientific protocols.

We need to secure comprehensive and credible emissions data, including exhaust, evaporative and permeation effects, as well as safety, product performance and consumer satisfaction. Without that information, it would be reckless to move to higher levels of ethanol. But with it, we are hopeful our nation can calculate a transition to levels leading to the energy security all of us desire. 
Information and updates can be found at www.allsafe-fuel.org, as well as the latest developments. 

For comments or questions, contact Kris Kiser at KKiser@opei.org. Kiser is a spokesman for AllSAFE and vice president of public affairs for the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, member of AllSAFE. 

AllSAFE speaks on fuel-related legislation that affects more than 250 million Americans who own and operate more than 300 million products, including chainsaws, lawnmowers, motor vehicles, motorcycles, all terrain vehicles (ATVs), snowmobiles, generators and related vehicles and equipment.  For more information, visit www.allsafe-fuel.org.

AllSAFE Members
Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers Motorcycle Industry Council
American Motorcyclist Association National Association of Convenience Stores
Association of Marina Industries National Marine Manufacturers Association
Association of International Automobile Manufacturers Outdoor Power Equipment Institute
Boat Owners Association of the United States Personal Watercraft Industry Association
Engine Manufacturers Association Professional Landcare Network
Specialty Vehicle Institute of America