AG LEADERS PROMOTE RESEARCH ON HIGHER ETHANOL BLENDS

News Date February 18, 2008

       NASDA members are urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to promote increased research to make higher percentage ethanol blends, such as E20 and E30, available to American consumers. The expansion and utilization of renewable fuels resources has been one of NASDA's top priorities.

       The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 mandates an increase in renewable fuels (RFS) to 36 billion gallons annually by 2022. It also directs EPA to ensure that the target volumes of renewable fuels are introduced into the U.S. annually. In a letter to EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson, NASDA President and North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson said America's transportation infrastructure is insufficient to move enough ethanol from the production centers in the Midwest to the dense population centers on the coasts. "This logistical roadblock makes it impractical to satisfy the RFS mandate utilizing current blends of renewable fuels," he said. "By incorporating higher blends of ethanol, we can help meet annual target volumes of the RFS while working to improve the biofuels transportation infrastructure."

       NASDA pointed out that the Minnesota Department of Agriculture is leading an effort to provide the scientific basis that EPA needs to support a waiver for an E20 ethanol blend. The letter noted that research demonstrates that the higher blends do not pose a threat to the environment and human health, and that they increase efficiency, while decreasing pollution. EPA is also working with others to look at issues beyond those relating to human health and the environment. NASDA's letter said it is important that those issues such as engine performance, engine wear, etc., be studied. NASDA encouraged EPA to complete these studies quickly in order to avoid serious market disruption resulting from the rapid expansion of the ethanol industry in the Midwest. (Contact: Charlie Ingram)