The National Marine Manufacturers Association is opposing a change by the Environmental Protection Agency that would permit the sale of 15 percent ethanol (E15) during the summer months.
Fuel mixed with ethanol has consistently posed challenges for marine engines, and the NMMA has opposed the year-round sale of E15. President Donald Trump, however, committed to his agriculture supporters that he would authorize sales of higher ethanol blends.
“The EPA’s legally questionable decision to allow year-round sales of E15 needlessly increases the risk of misfuelling for millions of American boaters, as well as countless others using chainsaws, generators, and lawnmowers, purely for the benefit of a significant, politically connected group seeking financial gains,” stated NMMA president Thom Dammrich in a press release.
“The NMMA is firmly against this proposal and urges the administration to reconsider this reckless approach.”
Dammrich emphasized their opposition to E15’s expanded availability due to challenges related to older and smaller engines.
“The government is equally aware of E15’s limitations, as federal regulations prohibit its use in marine and many off-road engines,” Dammrich remarked. “Regrettably, our industry has seen time and again that the EPA’s attempts to warn the public about E15’s risks are severely lacking, resulting in consumers using fuels unfit for their equipment.”
Dammrich referenced a study from the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute revealing that 60 percent of Americans wrongly believe all gasoline available at stations is suitable for all their devices. The NMMA is advocating for enhanced consumer education and protective measures, which the EPA is currently considering.
Air quality regulations currently prevent the sale of E15 gasoline from June 1 to September 15 in areas struggling with smog. The EPA’s new proposal aims to eliminate these restrictions, enabling sales year-round, as reported by Bloomberg News.
The EPA is accepting public comments on the E15 expansion and is set to hold a public hearing on March 29. The Trump administration aims to finalize the proposal by June 1.
In the U.S., gasoline contains 10 percent ethanol, with fewer than 1 percent of gas stations offering E15. This ruling, which is anticipated to gain approval, may encounter legal challenges, with the American Petroleum Institute threatening legal action.
The problems associated with ethanol in marine engines include debris loosening in fuel tanks, clogged fuel filters, peeled fuel lines, and the attraction of water molecules to the ethanol.