Posted on: June 05, 2013 in E15, Ethanol, EPA, Safety, Test

I’m writing in response to the guest opinion piece that ran on May 18 by Stephen Buck. It was addressed to Congresswoman Bustos and entitled “Stop Using E15 Fuel Until Further Study is Performed.”

I can assure Mr. Buck and Congresswoman Bustos that E15 has been thoroughly tested by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE). In fact, E15 is the most tested fuel additive the EPA has ever approved.

EPA does not take these tests lightly. DOE tested over 80 vehicles, amassing more than six million miles. EPA concluded the E15 blend is safe for cars 2001 and newer. E15 has been on the road for 10 months, racking up roughly 40 million miles, and there have been no reports of engine trouble. I can assure you, E15 was well tested both by the federal government and now, by consumers.

The EPA E15 tests were strictly focused on light duty vehicles. E15 was not approved for motorcycles or other small engines. In fact, it is illegal to put E15 into a motorcycle. Gas stations offering E15, and there are only a handful today, are required by EPA to ensure at least one — clearly labeled — pump at each station has a fuel suitable for motorcycles and small engines.

It is important to note that E15 is not mandated. Consumers have the option to pay more for a lower concentration of ethanol, even though E15 is cheaper and perfectly suited for vehicles 2001 and newer.

We would never put a product into market that was unsafe or untested. E15 is both safe and tested, and I hope that it continues to be used by drivers throughout the country.

Bob Dinneen

« More Blog Posts