Coalition Urges EPA to Include Ethanol Option in Phase II Reformulated Gasoline

Kansas Governor Bill Graves

Concerned about proposed modifications to the federal reformulated gasoline program beginning in January, 2000, the Governors' Ethanol Coalition has written the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, urging the Agency to ensure a role for ethanol in this important clean fuels program. "The Governors' Ethanol Coalition, representing 22 states, many of which are affected by Phase II reformulated gasoline requirements, is very concerned that ethanol may be effectively excluded from reformulated gasoline in the summer months," wrote Kansas Governor Bill Graves and Iowa Governor Thomas Vilsack, Chair and Vice Chair of the Coalition, respectively, to EPA Administrator Carol Browner. "It would be a serious step backward in achieving the overall goals of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990  if no accommodations are made to preserve the viability of ethanol in the reformulated gasoline program."

"More than 90 percent of the gasoline sold in the Chicago/Milwaukee/Indiana reformulated gasoline markets is blended with ethanol. We are very proud of this accomplishment and the resulting benefits to air quality," said the governors. "In a single day in the greater Chicago area, ethanol-blended gasoline reduces carbon monoxide emissions by 780 tons and ozone-causing emissions by 24 tons. We do not want to see ethanol effectively excluded by regulation next year in the Phase II reformulated gasoline program."

The Coalition expressed concern about MTBE replacing ethanol. "Reports of drinking water contamination due to MTBE are growing nationwide," the governors wrote. "Lake Tahoe's MTBE levels are rising steadily due to MTBE use in California. The Great Lakes region could also be jeopardized if the EPA does not ensure the continued year-round use of ethanol in Phase II reformulated gasoline." Ethanol, on the other hand, "provides cleaner air without sacrificing clean water."

"EPA's Phase II reformulated gasoline rules should be modified to provide refiners and marketers greater flexibility for using ethanol-year round," wrote the governors. "We firmly believe that there are benefits to the use of ethanol, such as lower reactivity, which are not being credited in the existing regulatory framework and that would make ethanol a more viable component of Phase II reformulated gasoline. Provisions need to be established allowing ethanol-blended fuels to compete with other oxygenates."

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