OT Ethanol Blending Wall

The U.S. ethanol industry is facing the prospect in the next two to five years of being able to produce more of its product than can be blended into available gasoline supplies. That is because the Environmental Protection Agency has approved only two ethanol-gasoline blends for use in the U.S.automotive fleet: 10 percent and 85 percent.

The problem could be resolved if large numbers of vehicles were able to run on E85 and if E85 filling stations were prevalent throughout the country. Neither of these is now the case. Therefore, EPA is considering whether to raise the ethanol blend limit to 15 or even 20 percent.

Currently, the EPA is examining the potential of raising acceptable ethanol blends from 10 percent to 15 percent or possibly 20 percent. Officials with the USDA and Department of Energy, which have conducted some initial tests, have seen some positive results, but it may take at least a year for long-term tests on vehicles and potential impact on auto parts are known. The problem is that when testing these vehicles they literally have to try to drive on these higher blends for the projected life of the vehicle so it takes time. However, Matt Hartwig, a spokesman for the Renewable Fuels Association, the potintial to bump up ethanol blends to 12 percent, for instance, with little regulatory change and the RFA is lobbying for that kind of a move.

"Raising from a 10 percent blend to a 12 percent blend requires no change in technology, " Hartwig said. "EPA has the authority to do that."

All this talk about our cars. What about the gas engines on the farm? Is anyone thinking about us? I think not!