Dear DU,
The use of gasoline alternatives, such as ethanol, could play a key role in reducing pollution from fuels, but scientific findings show that biofuels can also increase pollution when done wrong. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is developing a comprehensive plan to move toward biofuels with reduced global warming emissions while protecting air quality and public health.
The ethanol industry, however, does not want science to interfere with their expansion plans. Producers want immediate permission to increase the amount of ethanol they can blend into regular gasoline before government tests are complete to determine if this could be a public health risk.
The EPA opened a public comment period on this issue through May 16. Please tell EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to deny the producers’ premature request and focus on a comprehensive plan that protects public health while ensuring biofuels contribute to fueling our clean energy future.
Sincerely,
Scott Nathanson
Scott Nathanson
National Field Organizer
UCS Clean Vehicles Program
Take action now:
https://secure3.convio.net/ucs/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=1975 Dear Administrator Jackson,
I urge you to deny the petition allowing blends of 15 percent ethanol (E15) to be permitted for use in traditional gasoline engines.
The EPA has been coordinating with other agencies to obtain the data required by the Clean Air Act to determine the clean air risks of increased ethanol blending. But the testing will not be competed in time to review it for this request. In addition, the EPA has been studying the full lifecycle global warming pollution impact of biofuels as part of the Renewable Fuel Standard implementation process.
It would therefore be premature to approve a waiver for increased ethanol use before a thorough analysis of the public health and environmental impacts of ethanol are completed and brought to the public.
With the Obama administration committed to a regulatory system informed by science, I urge you to follow these principles and reject this request. I urge the EPA, instead, to focus on a comprehensive plan to protect public health and air quality, while reducing global warming pollution from biofuels.
One of the prime components of the recent California initiative was the requirement laid on biofuel manufacturers to provide a full accounting of the impacts of their fuels. The report behind the regulations focused extensively on the lack of reliable, comprehensive data that can be compared across the range of fuel feedstocks. We saw the hysterical over-reaction from those in the ethanol camp - the absurdity of which was demonstrated by the claim that the California Energy Commission was in the pocket of the fossil fuel industry. This lobby is strong, money hungry and they don't want to wait to compile the data needed to make an informed choice about our energy future. Please act if you feel the effort is worthwhile. - K