E15 sales resume, trade association calls for robust education effort

The sale of gasoline with 15 percent ethanol (E15) resumed over the weekend. Every year, fuels containing E15 are prohibited from being sold between June 1 and Sept. 15. Last Friday, in response to the restart of E15 sales, NMMA’s President, Thom Dammrich released the following statement:

“Starting [Sept. 15], E15 hit the market again – an unfortunate, annual event that puts countless American consumers at risk, including 142 million boaters,” Dammrich stated. “It seems clear that lawmakers and regulators understood the myriad of problems E15 poses when they approved its sale in 2012. Otherwise, they would not have restricted the sale of E15 during summer months.

Most consumers are unaware that federal law prohibits fueling small engines with ethanol blends exceeding 10 percent because of its corrosive and dangerous effects, Dammrich explained. Current lax labeling requirements are not doing consumers any favors. Instead, they are blindsided when they show up for an engine repair – or worse, become stranded on the water – to find out they’ve been misfuelling and voided their warranty.

“As E15 sales recommence, NMMA is once again calling for more robust education and labeling efforts to help prevent misfuelling,” Dammrich stated.  “The Consumer Protection and Fuel Transparency Act of 2018, introduced by Reps. Austin Scott (R-GA-08) and Lois Frankel (D-FL-21), does just that. All members of Congress should lend their support to this important measure.

“We are also urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to revise labeling requirements for ethanol fuel blends exceeding 10 percent – a commonsense move that the agency could take immediately.

“With 95 percent of boaters fueling at retail gas stations, it’s imperative they know the fuel they’re using is safe – regardless of which month it is. Summer may officially end in a few days, but consumers will not mothball every product unable to run on E15 until next June. Congress and the administration should act quickly to increase awareness around the dangers of E15, so consumers are protected 365 days a year.”

For more information, please contact NMMA Senior Vice President of Federal & Legal Affairs Nicole Vasilaros at nvasilaros@nmma.org or NMMA Director of Federal Government Affairs Mike Pasko at mpasko@nmma.org.