Obama Administration Blasted for Allowing Increased Ethanol in Fuel

Press Release

Today Congresswoman Chellie Pingree condemned an Obama Administration decision to allow oil companies to increase by 50 percent the amount of ethanol used in fuel. The EPA announced its decision this afternoon, granting a Clean Air Act waiver to allow oil companies to increase the corn ethanol mix in fuel from 10 to 15 percent for some vehicles.

"It's a conversation Mainers have at the pump all the time--if corn ethanol is so good, why is it ruining our engines?" said Pingree. "I'm dismayed that the Administration is not only allowing oil companies to use more ethanol, but that taxpayers will be paying for the increase. We grant subsidies of 45 cents for every gallon of ethanol made, amounting to billions of dollars every year."

The EPA says its decision to lift limitations on selling fuel with more than 10 percent ethanol is applicable only to cars and light trucks model year 2007 and newer. The Administration has proposed some labeling requirements at gas stations to try to prevent owners of older cars from using the new fuel.

"If it's not safe for all cars, it shouldn't be on the market. Too many old cars will end up using this fuel by accident and their emissions systems just aren't made to handle that high amount of ethanol," said Pingree. "As is, the current ethanol mix has brought on many headaches for Mainers by damaging boat engines, chainsaws and their vehicles.

"Ethanol is billed as good for the environment, but the truth is that it takes an incredible amount of fossil fuel to produce, uses up our best farmland, benefits big oil, and needlessly wastes taxpayer money. I'm very troubled that the Administration thinks this is the way to energy independence."

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