By Alan Caruba
One can hardly get through the week without learning of yet another absurd new program by the Environmental Protection Agency. The latest is a five percent increase in the amount of ethanol that must be added to the nation’s supply of gasoline.
In 2010, even Al Gore told a business conference in Athens that his previous support for blending ethanol with gasoline as a Senator from Tennessee was a mistake and based on a political decision concerning the support of farmers in his home state. At the time he spoke, corn ethanol subsidies to farmers represented $7.7 billion.
Ethanol was touted as yet another way to offset “greenhouse gas” emissions and prevent “global warming.” In 2010, ethanol production consumed an estimated 41 percent of the U.S. corn crop and 15 percent of the global corn crop.
The obvious result has been to drive up the cost of all food products that include corn and its derivatives. And there neither was nor is any “global warming”!
Two years later there is still no “global warming”, but the EPA has never been deterred by real science such as the fact that the Earth has been cooling since 1998. E15 is a diabolical mandate that will do widespread damage to autos using it and to the pumping and storage facilities to distribute it. And it is occurring as the market for ethanol is stalling.
It is by any definition, a criminal act by a rogue federal agency.
The Science Committee of the House of Representatives is trying to prevent the implementation of the EPA E15 mandate. This comes after more than 30 years of blending ethanol at a ten percent rate into gasoline; three decades of a blend that actually produces less mileage at the same time the production of ethanol generates the same level of carbon in the atmosphere as burning gasoline without ethanol.
The E115 mandate should trouble anyone with an automobile, motorcycle, outdoor or any equipment that runs on gasoline. Last summer, Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-WIS) sent the EPA administrator, Lisa Jackson, letters from car companies expressing their opposition.
“Ford does not support the introduction of E15 into the marketplace for the legacy fleet…Fuel not approved in the owner’s manual is considered misfueling and any damage resulting from misfueling is not covered by the warranty.” Both Chrysler and Honda sent comparable letters with the latter noting “There appears to be the potential for engine failure.”
E15 will be restricted to autos of the vehicle model year 2001 and later. The Obama administration set a goal “to help fueling station owners install 10,000 blender pumps over the next five years”, but the real question is why would any government even consider doing something that represents millions in damage to automobiles using it?
Additionally, why should Congress continue to provide ethanol subsidies to its producers when the evidence of the passed thirty years use has not only demonstrated that it reduces the mileage that pure gasoline would provide and, more importantly, serves no purpose whatever regarding the non-existent “global warming” that is the sole justification for the blend?
The answer is that the EPA does not care that as many as five million cars in the current fleet could suffer damage and total engine failure which is not covered by their warranties.
The EPA is the Obama administration’s tip of the sword in its war on the use of all fossil fuels for any reason. It has nothing to do with science. It portends to wreak further havoc on drivers and the economy.
What is desperately needed is the complete reform of the EPA before it further threatens the safely, health, and lives of Americans.
© Alan Caruba, 2012
Comment
Comment by Vern Shotwell on June 14, 2012 at 6:24am Al Gore's 2010 statement that his previous support for blending ethanol with gasoline as a Senator from Tennessee was a mistake.. based on a political decision concerning the support of TN farmers lacks any credibility.
TN represents only 0.77% of us production, and is only the 18th state in ranking. Al Gore strikes again. One more lie, in support of the overall Global Warming falsehood.
Did I hear reference to the "Lexington, Kentucky newspaper?"
This is the worst Communist rag in the country. It is owned by McClatchy and is losing one million per year. People little don't want it. Subscriptions are down massively. It's a horrible joke of a newspaper! In fact, it's an insult to refer to it as a newspaper. "Propaganda piece" would be more appropriate.
Comment by Vern Shotwell on June 14, 2012 at 6:06am Ethanol free fuel is available in my area: I use it almost exclusively. Costs a bit more, mileage increase is just about offsetting. And, this saves corn for food, while reducing tax subsidy slightly!
Comment by William on June 14, 2012 at 5:48am Mr. Caruba, lets not forget about small engines such as lawn mowers, weed eaters, trimmers, chain saws. None of these engines do well on Ethanol blends. So if any one has these items don't use Ethanol blends in them. 100% regular unleaded fuel is best for long engine life.
Comment by hunter60 on June 14, 2012 at 5:15am I disagree Alan, reform won't cut it since the agency has essentially gone rogue. What we desperately need is the immediate defunding and closure of the EPA as an agency hostile to the United States. So, who can we get to draft and carry a bill eliminating the EPA?
Another idea, we can prove economic damage past and present that is directly related to governments operation of the EPA so the question is can the people of the United States sue the government or the EPA as individuals or as a class? Surely there is a lawyer out there somewhere that can smell that payday even if it comes from us. Perhaps the suit should read exactly that, "that the continued operation of the EPA by the federal government is detrimental to the "general welfare" of the people of the United States". How sweet is that irony? Use the "general welfare" clause in the preamble of the Constitution to start closing down leftist run government, I like it!
Comment by Linny Redd on June 14, 2012 at 3:23am Get rid of the Cause--STUPID flaming liberals that lie,lie, lie for their own gain!!!
Along with those anti-American agendas, how about we nullify the erroneous placement of a foreign
crimnal ENEMY into Office of President! This does not involve impeachment since the man is NOT a
legal President! Just try him like any other scum Traitor!
Comment by Doug Nicholson on June 14, 2012 at 1:51am Nullification of Agenda 21 is a wonderful strategy, but we need to "nullify" the U.N., as well. We should resign from the U.N., de-fund it and boot their butts out of our country. U.N. HQ in NYC would make a great homeless shelter!
Comment by Linda Rund on June 14, 2012 at 1:00am @ Carolyn......Woo-Hoo for Alabama@ We, the People, in our group have written a draft bill against AG21 to submit to Texas legislation when they convene in January. Not sure but think KS has also nullified.
Comment by Carolyn Hamilton on June 14, 2012 at 12:52am Today, Alabama is the first State to nullify agenda 21.. I am so proud of that State and her
leaders...
Comment by Linda Rund on June 13, 2012 at 11:51pm Comment posted twice here already.....but I'll mention a 3rd time.....This is UN-AGenda 21 folks.
Those on here that are well-infomed can recognize it....the UN intent plans for global governance to be implemented through the U.S. EPA. To stop it starts at the local level city councils..by well-informed citizens. Congress isn't listening; them forming commissions to 'review' takes too long; it must be stopped at the local level. IF we had a well-informed congress they would've already revoked Clintons' exec order; & they would've already defunded the EPA. UN-AG21 has many tenacles....EPA plays a major role.
Get yourself well-informed on AG21...get a group together....go after your city council. .
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