The American Petroleum Institute’s (API) Downstream Group Director, Frank Macchiarola, has released a new poll indicating that consumers are concerned the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) could hurt their pocket books.
Macchiarola said: “68% of registered voters are concerned about the government requiring increased amounts of ethanol in gasoline and 74% agree that federal regulations could contribute to increased costs at the pump […] Consumers have spoken loud and clear. The results of a new national API poll on the ethanol mandate send another strong signal to policymakers that RFS reform is desperately needed.
“Nearly 85% of vehicles on the road today were not designed for higher ethanol blends, such as E15. And many automakers say that using E15 could potentially void new car warranties. Higher ethanol blends threaten engines and fuel systems – potentially forcing drivers to pay for costly repairs, according to industry testing. And the public remains uneasy about that, with three quarters of respondents expressing concern about breaching the blend wall.
“We continue to urge Congress to pass legislation to fix the program, but until there is a fix, EPA should provide relief from the unreasonable statutory mandate.”
The poll also showed that 70% of voters think the use of more corn for ethanol could increase food prices; 59% oppose moving the point of obligation to shift the program’s compliance burden, while only 20 percent support such a change. In addition, 75% of voters are concerned about government requirements that could breach the blend wall.