By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff
A SEMA-supported bill has been introduced in the U.S. Congress that will cap the yearly amount of ethanol to be blended into transportation fuel at 9.7%. The Food and Fuel Consumer Protection Act of 2016 (H.R. 5180) would replace ever-increasing ethanol mandates under the current Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is relying on expanded sales of E15 (gas that contains 15% ethanol) to meet the expanding RFS targets.
Ethanol, especially in higher concentrations such as E15, can cause metal corrosion and dissolve certain plastics and rubbers in automobiles produced before 2001 that were not constructed with ethanol-resistant materials. SEMA has joined with more than 50 other organizations from the auto/boat industries to the food, energy and environmental community to support passage of the legislation.
For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.