In a position paper on oxygenated gasoline and clean air choices, the American Lung Association of Minnesota has thrown its strong support behind maintaining the oxygenate program. "We consider ethanol to be a clean and safe oxygenate based on air quality benefits," the association stated. "Minnesota water supplies have not suffered from MTBE contamination, as have those in other parts of the country. Ethanol has been the only oxygenate used in Minnesota gasoline."
"Ethanol is safe, renewable, high in octane and readily broken down in the natural environment when spilled," said the association. "Ethanol is the least toxic fuel additive - and the same alcohol found in beverages made for human consumption."
"Unfortunately, all oxygenates are now being branded negatively, and many groups are rushing to remove them from gasoline because of environmental problems caused solely by MTBE," the association said. In fact, the national American Lung Association has joined forces with the American Petroleum Institute, Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management and Natural Resources Defense Council calling for an elimination of the federal oxygen requirement in reformulated gasoline to address concerns with MTBE. Yet, as stated by Renewable Fuels Association President Eric Vaughn, "We shouldn't throw the baby out with the MTBE-contaminated bath water." The Clean Air Act isn't the problem. "The problem is that the oil companies chose the wrong oxygenate," Vaughn said, referring to the successful ethanol reformulated gasoline program in the greater Chicago area.
