Marine engine executives meet with top Washington leaders

On Tuesday, marine engine executives met in Washington with top leaders of the House of Representatives and Trump Administration to discuss legislative and regulatory impacts on recreational boating. Companies included Yamaha, Mercury Marine, Torqeedo, Indmar, Evinrude and Volvo Penta.

The engine leaders met with Speaker Paul Ryan, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and his senior staff, and Chairman John Shimkus. The day’s discussions on Capitol Hill focused on reforming the Renewable Fuel Standard, promoting E15 education for consumers, and offering biobutanol as an alternative fuel.

With the EPA’s imminent announcement of the renewable volume obligations, which set the amount of corn based ethanol in the fuel supply, engine executives impressed on the EPA the marine engine issues with ethanol blends above 10 percent, the lack of consumer education leading to misfueling, and the promising results of alternatives like biobutanol.

Additionally, the EPA meeting focused on efforts to achieve concrete regulatory reforms for marine engine manufacturers that reduce burdensome testing and paperwork, while maintaining strong engine compliance, and ensuring a strong globally recognized EPA. Marine engine manufacturers look forward to continuing the positive dialogue between the industry, Capitol Hill and the EPA.

For more information, contact NMMA’s Senior Vice President of Government Affairs John McKnight at jmcknight@nmma.org or NMMA’s Vice President of Federal and Legal Affairs Nicole Vasilaros at nvasilaros@nmma.org.