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Pro-ethanol groups: RVP rule is outdated

With the coming of June, in most of the country, E15 blended gasoline can only be sold to drivers of flex fuel vehicles.  Ron Lamberty of the American Coalition for Ethanol, and Emily Skor of Growth Energy agree that the rule governing the sale of fifteen percent ethanol blends is outdated.

“When the law was enacted, the highest blend you could make was a ten percent blend,” Lamberty told Brownfield Ag News.

“Fast forward to 2017, we are selling, in 29 states, fuel with E15 [a blend of 15 percent ethanol and 85 percent gasoline],” said Emily Skor, the CEO of Growth Energy, “and so we’ve got to update the law so that it is current with the current marketplace.”

There’s currently a waiver from that summertime rule governing Reid vapor pressure (RVP) granted to ten percent ethanol blends, but Skor says legislation adding the words “or more” after “ten percent” would be an easy fix.

“Those two words allow us to sell E15 year around in every state, in every locality,” said Skor, referring to a legislative remedy currently being considered at the federal level, “and we will never have to revisit this conversation again.”

The RVP rule as it currently stands eliminates a lot of summertime E15 buyers who might not return once cooler months allow the sale, according to ACE’s Lamberty.  He also considers the current rule an inconvenience to retailers.

“These guys have to change the labels on these pumps, which is not a huge expense, but it’s a hassle and it confuses customers,” said Lamberty.

The RVP rule is in effect in summer months to prevent engine vapor lock, but Lamberty says higher ethanol blends actually have lower Reid vapor pressure, making the rule unnecessary.

Photo provided by ACE

AUDIO: Ron Lamberty (7 min. MP3)

AUDIO: Emily Skor (5 min. MP3)