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Two motor clubs endorse E15

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) has received some welcome assistance in its ongoing battle with the AAA Motor Club over E15, the blend of 15 percent ethanol and 85 percent gasoline.

AAA has repeatedly called for the suspension of E15 sales, saying it is potentially harmful to automobile engines.  It contends consumer confusion over E15 could lead to misfueling. But Mark Muncey, co-owner of Travelers Motor Club and Association Motor Club Marketing, says none of their 18 million members has ever reported a problem related to E15.

“Today, four years after the EPA approved E15 and two years after AAA declared their opposition to it, we can say for certain that our members have not ever reported any problems related to E15,” Muncey says. “We support the use of E15 in vehicles approved by EPA to use the fuel.”

Ron Lamberty, senior vice president for ACE, says it’s the same story for fuel station owners who sell E15.

“They’ve had no customer complaints, no breakdowns, and no repair bills from drivers who fill up with E15,” Lamberty says. “In fact, because E15 is a higher-octane fuel that costs less than regular, stations with E15 are gaining customers and E15 has become the second highest volume fuel in most of the stations that sell it.”

Lamberty said the motor clubs’ announcement, coupled with last week’s U.S. Court of Appeals ruling rejecting an E15 lawsuit filed by Big Oil, automakers, and the small engine lobby “offers hope that truth will win out over fear-mongering”.

AUDIO: ACE conference call with media