NMMA: 22,000 have e-mailed Obama about E15
WASHINGTON — More than 22,000 Americans have e-mailed President Obama urging him to stop the Environmental Protection Agency from approving an increase in the amount of ethanol in gasoline until more scientific testing is completed, according to a recent news release from the National Marine Manufacturer’s Association.
The 10-day e-mail campaign, called Say NO to Untested E15, was organized by a group of environmental, engine manufacturing, and other industry organizations, united in their opposition to higher ethanol levels. NMMA said a majority of the e-mails came from the boating community.
According to the campaign’s website, FollowTheScience.org, the Say NO to Untested E15 campaign contends that ethanol burns hotter than pure gasoline, corrodes soft metals, and damages plastics and rubber. As a result, more ethanol in gasoline could have serious effects on engine performance and raises potential safety concerns, NMMA says.
Thom Dammrich, president of the NMMA, commented in a recent release posted on the campaign’s website: “A partial approval of E15 will be an unfortunate outcome for consumers, the environment, and American manufacturers. Marine and other non-road engine products were not designed, built or warranted to run on any fuel containing more than 10 percent ethanol. Ultimately, EPA is sacrificing air quality and consumer safety in order to bolster the struggling corn ethanol industry. In response, thousands of boaters across the country have asked the White House to follow the science on E15 – we can only hope that our federal officials listen.”
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