E15 Fuel Sales Would Stop With Congressional Bill

The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) reports that bill, H.R. 875, requiring the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to stop the sale of E15 fuel until the gasoline-ethanol blend is studied further has been introduced in Congress.

U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) introduced the bill on Feb. 28. The measure would repeal the EPA’s waiver decision approving the use of E15, a gasoline formulation that contains up to 15 percent ethanol by volume and would bar the agency from granting further decisions on the use of E15 until the EPA obtains an independent scientific analysis of the effects of the blend.

The EPA has not approved the use of E15 in motorcycles or all-terrain vehicles. It has only approved its use in 2001-and-new light duty vehicles, which include cars, light-duty trucks and medium-duty passenger vehicles.

The possible damage to motorcycle and ATV engines caused by the inadvertent use of E15 when the new fuel becomes widely available prompted the AMA to express their concerns to government officials and federal lawmakers. The AMA wants motorcycles and ATVs to be part of any scientific study into the effects of E15.

What’s more, Sensenbrenner said there have been several tests highlighting E15’s harmful effects on engines, “but they have all been dismissed by the EPA. Therefore, we must force the EPA to stop the use of E15 fuel until the serious safety, durability, performance and environmental concerns have been addressed." Representative Sensenbrenner adds, "Throughout the 112th Congress, I introduced several bills to address the risks associated with E15. And earlier this week, witnesses from AAA, the American Motorcyclist Association and the Coordinating Research Council all testified to the Science, Space and Technology Committee that more testing is needed.”