E15 more widely accepted after EPA ruling

Posted 2/09/11 (Wed)

By Michael Johnson, Editor

About 60 percent of vehicles now on the road are able to use E15 (a blend of 15 percent ethanol and 85 percent gasoline) in their gas tanks thanks to a new United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ruling. EPA announced in January its ruling to allow the use of E15 in light duty vehicles with a model year 2001 through 2006 passenger vehicles, including cars, SUVs, and light pickup trucks. This announcement follows up EPA’s October waiver allowing the use of E15 for model year 2007 and newer cars and light trucks. Jeff Zueger, chairman of the North Dakota Ethanol Council, and Randy Schneider, president of the North Dakota Ethanol Producers Association, applaud EPA’s decision, which showed E15 does not harm emissions control equipment in light duty vehicles. "This is definitely a step in the right direction, but North Dakota’s ethanol industry encourages EPA approval of E15 for all vehicles, thus providing a more streamlined process and less confusion for retail marketers and consumers," said Zueger.