AFPM Issues Panic-Striken Warning Against Ethanol to Keep America Addicted to Foreign Oil

Another cowardly late-night effort by the oil industry to lie to the American people

By Marc J. Rauch
Exec. Vice President/Co-Publisher
THE AUTO CHANNEL

AUTO CENTRAL - February 17, 2012: Late today, Friday, Charles T. Drevna, president of American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers, issued a scurrilous press release against the use of gasoline blended with 15% ethanol - E15. The information presented in the press release is virtually without merit. Or to put it another way, I'd say it is filled with lies and gross misinformation.

To zero in on the most atrocious bit of misinformation, Drevna states that more testing is needed on E15 and that "...studies have shown that increasing ethanol in gasoline could cause serious engine damage..." I say that this is a bald-face lie and that if there is such a study that is a fraud.

In fact, ethanol may be to single most studied engine fuel since the invention of the automobile. Time and time again, studies have shown that ethanol is the best fuel to use. Moreover, in spite of the Drevna's hysterical attempt to portray E15 as not sufficiently studied, in addition to private studies by such well respected testing firms as RICARDO finding that E15 is not harmful, our own government testing laboratories have definitively stated that their tests prove that E15 will not harm engines.

Moreover, in the most recent testing done by our national laboratories, the testing also included E20 (20% ethanol-gasoline blend), and the results on E20 showed that there was no harm done to engines. You can listen to the complete EPA press conference by clicking on the window below. And yes, that is me asking the question about higher-level blends towards the end of the event.

This is just another attempt at keeping the U.S. addicted to poison gasoline. And in my opinion, the issuance of this press release at the end of the business day is just another cowardly tactic that these blood suckers have employed on the American people for the past 100-plus years. They must have hoped no ethanol advocates would be available to refute the lies. Fortunately, I'm on the west coast. If you were man, Mr. Drevna, I'd figuratively smack your face with a glove.

To be fair - although the gasoline monsters never play fair - the entire AFPM press release is included at the bottom of this page. However, if you are interested in reading the truth about ethanol and the fabulous potential that this domestic-produced fuel can provide start by reading these stories:

The Auto Channel Fights for the Truth about Ethanol Versus Gasoline

The Ethanol Dividend

Food Prices Rise - Not Because of Ethanol, But Oil and Gasoline

America's Problem, American Solution

An Open Letter to Tim Searchinger and all the other Gasoline Whores

Detroit News Story Goes Overboard in Slamming Ethanol

The AFPM Press Release

WASHINGTON - February 17, 2012: American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers President Charles T. Drevna today issued the following response to the Environmental Protection Agency's decision paving the way for the sale of gasoline blended with 15 percent ethanol to be sold into the general marketplace:

"It is unfortunate that EPA today chose to continue down the path of allowing E15 to be sold as regular gasoline before necessary studies have been completed. Today's decision does nothing to address the concerns of engine damage due to the use of E15 in vehicle and other engines. A number of studies have shown that increasing ethanol in gasoline could cause serious engine damage and as a result, auto manufacturers have stated that they will not warranty engines of their vehicles if gasoline containing more than 10 percent ethanol is used. This leaves consumers at risk of having to pay costly repair bills. EPA's solution of simply sticking a small label on retail fuel pumps does not solve the problem and will do little to protect consumers from misfueling with gasoline containing greater than 10 percent ethanol.

"AFPM members remain committed to consumer protection and to continuing to manufacture safe and reliable fuels for use by American families. Allowing a 50 percent increase in the amount of ethanol in gasoline before further scientific review is conducted is irresponsible and harmful to consumers."

About AFPM
AFPM, the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (formerly known as NPRA, the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association) is a trade association representing high-tech American manufacturers of virtually the entire U.S. supply of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, other fuels and home heating oil, as well as the petrochemicals used as building blocks for thousands of vital products in daily life. AFPM members make modern life possible and keep America moving and growing as they meet the needs of our nation and local communities, strengthen economic and national security, and support 2 million American jobs.