This is a case of pretending to do something to help that really won’t help
Biden waiving ethanol rule in bid to lower gasoline prices
President Joe Biden is visiting corn-rich Iowa on Tuesday to announce he’ll suspend a federal rule preventing the sale of higher ethanol blend gasoline this summer as his administration tries to tamp down prices at the pump that have spiked during Russia’s war with Ukraine.
Most gasoline sold in the U.S. is blended with 10% ethanol. The Environmental Protection Agency will issue an emergency waiver to allow widespread sale of 15% ethanol blend that is usually prohibited between June 1 and Sept. 15 because of concerns that it adds to smog in high temperatures.
Senior Biden administration officials said the move will save drivers an average of 10 cents per gallon at 2,300 gas stations. Industry groups say most of those stations are in the Midwest and the South, including Texas.
OK, who has the Gas Buddy app on their phone? If not, hit up their website. Now Find Gas. Choose your zip, type of gas is UNL88. How many stations do you have? In Raleigh there are a grand total of 3. Which, yes, saves about 10 cents. You supposedly get slightly better fuel economy for reduced power. Why not just turn on your econ button? Will makers have time to make more E15? Will they bother to make it when it’s not used that much to start with in most areas? Motortrend noted in 2021
Interestingly, in August 2012, there was only one gas station (out of 150,000) in the U.S. that sold E15 for regular vehicles. Today, almost a decade later? In addition to the QuikTrip outlet in Dallas, Texas, where we found E15 at the pump, there are still fewer than 2,000 retail distributors across 31 states.
So, really, this whole plan will barely make a dent in the price of gas. You know what would? Allowing more drilling in the U.S.
It’s also reported to be not good for any vehicle 2012 and earlier.
Further, is it a good idea to use more food for fuel? Both the NY Times and Washington Post have come out against it in the past. Speaking of the NY Times
March Inflation Report Is Expected to Show Price Increases Getting Worse
The government’s latest inflation report is expected to show that consumer prices increased 8.4 percent in the year through March, the fastest rate since 1982, propelled by rising gasoline costs and higher rents — expenses that are stretching budgets and undermining confidence in the U.S. economy.
Now, if Trump or any Republican was in the White House, it would be about undermining confidence in them. And that’s really why Brandon is pushing his almost worthless E15 waiver, because of inflation. It won’t help, but, his people can say it is.
Oh well. Clean air was good while it lasted. But in the fight between Big CORN and clean air, Big CORN fills more Democratic party pockets. I don’t expect the cost of fuel going down from this. Ethanol costs more than gasoline. It’s the government subsidies and forcing oil companies to use it that make it look cheaper. And the Democrats passed those laws ostensibly for cleaner air. My car cannot use more than 10% ethanol. Neither can my lawn mower, by weed eater, my chain saw or anything else I put gasoline in. So even if that becomes available in my area (it isn’t), I still can’t use it.
The ethanol was added to ensure at that time that Iowa would continue to vote red. Of course corn grown in Iowa adds to many in the economy
When I checked to see who BIG CORN actually donated to I looked up Archer Daniel’s Midland. The biggest grain dealer.
They stopped alltheir donations after Trump’s supporters rooted on zjan 6 (mostly peaceful)
Apparently they had reservations following that riot
Reuter.com
Jan 11 2021
US grain trader ADM suspends political donations
Teach you are WRONG about who BIG CORN donates to
You have such partisan opinions and you never fact check yourself.
Ethanol supposedly reduces pollution by giving the motor a cleaner burn and a cleaner exhaust.
It also reduces power and miles per gallon.
So the actual value is unknown.
Come to think of it, that describes what is known about climate change.
[…] ethanol one won’t change the dynamic much, nor will the silly ACA “fix”, and there are poison pills in the oil […]