"E15 is the most tested fuel blend in our nation’s history."

In Washington, reaction from the passage of the Sullivan and Flake Amendments to the US House budget resolution, which blocks the U.S. EPA from implementing its approved waiver for E15 ethanol blends in America’s fuel supply and  prohibiting construction of blender pumps and ethanol storage facilities.

“The Sullivan provision picks politics over science. EPA’s consideration of E15 was based on a more exhaustive study and collection of data than any of the 11 previously-approved petitions. No other fuel mix has been tested more,” said Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy, which filed the Green Jobs Waiver for E15 in March 2009. “With all the turmoil going on in the Middle East and elsewhere, the House of Representatives just voted to stop the only viable alternative to foreign oil: ethanol.  It is the wrong move at the wrong time for the wrong reasons.”

∙         E15 is the most tested fuel blend in our nation’s history.

∙         DOE and EPA have both said that ethanol does not harm engine durability nor emissions equipment for vehicles 2001 and newer (which represents nearly 70 percent of all vehicles in the United States and 75percent of all the fuel consumed).

∙         Delphi, the global maker of engine parts, recently stated that it has been supplying E15-compliant fuel pumps since 1992, and that its fuel pumps today can even handle E25 blends.

∙         E15 will reduce our dependence on foreign oil by 7 billion gallons annually.

∙         E15 will create up to 136,000 American jobs that can’t be outsourced.

∙         E15 will improve our environment – corn ethanol has 59 percent fewer harmful emissions compared to conventional gasoline.

∙         E15 will inject $24.4 billion into the U.S. economy and help keep more U.S. money within our own borders.

∙         E15 is voluntary.

∙         Without E15, you are mandating that 90 percent of all fuel will be petroleum-based. Capping the blend at 10 percent will prevent the development of next-generation biofuels.

Last summer, Growth Energy introduced the Fueling Freedom plan, a proposal that would open the transportation fuels market by investing in ethanol infrastructure like blender pumps.

“At a time of increasing instability in oil exporting countries, this job killing amendment from Rep. Flake would deepen our addiction to foreign oil and further hurt our economy by limiting consumer access to the only commercially viable fuel alternative that is cleaner and more cost efficient than gasoline refined from oil.” Buis added. “Passage by the House is only the first step in this process. We will fight to remove these provisions in the Senate.”

By contrast, over at the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association, association president Charles T. Drevna, said: “Every American who owns a car, light-duty truck, motorcycle, snowmobile or outdoor power equipment will benefit by the House vote that has the effect of blocking the sale of gasoline containing 15 percent ethanol, known as E15. House members in both parties have served the best interests of the American people on this important consumer protection issue, and we urge the Senate to join them. EPA’s approval of the sale of E15 for late-model cars and light-duty trucks was unwise and premature, because thorough and objective scientific testing to establish whether E15 will damage gasoline-powered engines has not been completed. In addition, EPA approval of E15 was unlawful because it did not cover all gasoline-powered engines. It could have led to misfueling that could have cost Americans millions of dollars in engine repair bills.”