Ethanol in Reformulated Gas Helps Reduce Auto Air Pollution
19 May 1999
National Research Council Report Says Ethanol in Reformulated Gas Helps Reduce Auto Air Pollution WICHITA, Kan., May 18 -- A National Research Council (NRC)
Report, released this month, "demonstrates the importance of oxygenates, such
as ethanol, in reducing harmful air pollution from vehicles," stated Gary
Smith, President and CEO of High Plains Corporation . The Report
notes that ethanol reduces toxic emissions from vehicles, such as benzene, a
known carcinogen. Reduced toxic emissions are one of the most important
benefits of the reformulated gasoline (RFG) program.
The Report, entitled, "The Ozone-Forming Potential of Reformulated
Gasoline," examines methods for assessing the air-quality benefits of fuels,
including ethanol, for the reformulated gasoline program. According to the
NRC, more than 20% of vehicle-related ozone pollution comes from carbon
monoxide.
While the Report concludes that the bulk of air quality benefits to date
have come from volatile organic compound (VOC) emission reductions, a
conclusion disputed by both EPA and High Plains, the Report does suggest that
CO emissions will play an increasing role in contributing to ground-level
ozone formation as other emissions from vehicles, primarily VOCs, continue to
decline.
"Ethanol is an effective means of reducing carbon monoxide," said Smith.
"Just look at the success of ethanol in the nation's CO non-attainment areas.
Ethanol use has played an important role in reducing the number of non-
attainment areas from 42 to 17," Smith concluded. EPA agrees. At a recent
Congressional hearing on the reformulated gas program, EPA Assistant
Administrator for Air and Radiation, Bob Perciasepe, stated that reformulated
gasoline "is a cost-effective way to reduce ozone precursors ... when compared
to other air quality measures."
The NRC Report also recognizes the importance of reducing emissions from
high-emitting vehicles that account for 7% of the vehicle fleet but contribute
more than 50% of the total CO and VOC emissions. The Report states that "the
use of oxygenated fuels in those vehicles will be of the greatest benefit by
reducing the exhaust emissions of CO and VOCs by approximately 20%." Smith
added that the use of 10% ethanol-blended fuels, with their higher oxygen
content relative to MTBE fuels, "is the most effective way to assure emissions
reductions from these high-pollution vehicles."
The NRC acknowledges that there are air quality benefits to the use of RFG
which result from lower reduced sulfur, olefin and aromatic content levels in
gasoline. "It is important to recognize that it is the addition of oxygenates,
such as ethanol, that allow refiners to reduce these components to the levels
that are providing air quality benefits. Without the addition of oxygenates,
such as ethanol, harmful components of gasoline will increase and air quality
will surely suffer," Smith emphasized.
The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of
Sciences in 1916. The NRC is administered jointly by the National Academy of
Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering and the Institute of Medicine. A
copy of the Report can be obtained by calling the NAS Office of News and
Public Information, 202-334-2138.
Based in Wichita, Kansas, High Plains Corporation is among the Nation's
largest producers of ethanol. The Company operates production facilities in
Colwich, Kansas; York, Nebraska; and Portales, New Mexico.
