On April 7, I appeared before the Louisiana Agriculture Committee at the State Capitol in Baton Rouge. The State Agriculture Commission regulates motor fuel-related issues in Louisiana. The purpose of the meeting was to present the reasoning for a proposed legislative bill to require Louisiana gasoline stations to carry at least one pump with ethanol-free regular gasoline.
Also present at the meeting were Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain; St. John Parish State Rep. Nicki Monica; Duane Cowart, lobbyist for the National Marine Manufacturers Association; other Agriculture Committee members and legislative attorneys.
I explained the extensive damage ethanol gasoline is causing to outboard marine engines and gasoline-powered yard and garden tools to the group.
The point that more and more gas stations are converting to ethanol gas due to the federal tax credits, leaving fewer and fewer ethanol-free gas stations, was emphasized. Several fishing communities have no ethanol-free gas stations in their communities.
It was also emphasized that the Environmental Protection Agency approval of 15-percent ethanol gasoline in August was highly probable. This would present a major dilemma to boat owners. It was pointed out that no outboard marine engine sold in the country can operate on gasoline containing greater than 10 percent ethanol. All manufacturers, in fact, warn that usage of “gasoline containing greater than 10 percent ethanol will result in severe damage to the engine and void the warranty.”
A copy of a Nov. 30, 2009, letter from the EPA to Growth Energy regarding their request to increase the ethanol content of motor fuels to 15 percent was handed out to the audience. All agreed that the tone of the letter strongly suggested that the EPA will approve 15-percent ethanol in August.
It was pointed out to the Committee that if boat owners could not a find a source of ethanol-free gasoline once 15-percent ethanol was approved, they could not use their boats.
I asked if the committee was prepared for the extreme boater anger and nightmare this situation would present. I predicted a boater protest parade in front of the Capitol and Governor’s mansion if this happened. Their response was “we’ll face that issue if/when it happens.”
In the end, the committee did not approve a legislative proposal to require gas stations to carry at least one pump of ethanol-free regular gas.
I asked that they at least allow a bill putting a cap on ethanol gas at 10 percent. The attorneys present indicated they had already checked into that option, but learned that the EPA ethanol regulation did not have an “opt out” clause in the regulation, and as a result a cap at the state level would not be legal.
Rep. Monica also offered a proposed bill to require new labeling for all ethanol pumps warning that the use of ethanol gasoline could cause damage to marine engines and gas powered yard tools. The Committee rejected that also.
Needless to say, I was very disappointed that the Agriculture Committee did not support any of our proposals.
Because of our lack of success in this year’s legislative session, it is more important than ever that we identify as many new ethanol-free gas stations as possible to add to our existing list of ethanol-free gas stations.
Click here to learn how you can help build the LouisianaSportsman.com database of ethanol-free gass stations.
The end result of our efforts was the Legislature enactment of a two resolutions: one “resolution” to be submitted to the U.S. Congress asking that the ethanol content of motor fuels be capped at 10 percent maximum, with the second being the formation of a “study resolution” to have the House Committee on Commerce study the effects of ethanol fuel on marine engines.
The first resolution follows:
HLS 10RS-3965 ORIGINAL
Regular Session, 2010
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 248
BY REPRESENTATIVE MONICA
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS: Memorializes congress to maintain a cap of ten percent on the
amount of ethanol contained in gasoline
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
To memorialize the United States Congress to take such actions as are necessary to maintain the 10-percent cap on the percentage of ethanol in gasoline.
WHEREAS, ethanol is an alcohol, made from corn or grains, added to gasoline to oxygenate fuel at the gas pumps; and
WHEREAS, ethanol has been incorporated as an additive in gasoline recently to help reduce the amount of consumption of crude oil and fossil fuels; and
WHEREAS, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 provided for mandates and incentives on clean renewable fuels that accelerated ethanol production; and
WHEREAS, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 further provided for an increase in the production of clean renewable fuels such as gasoline containing ethanol; and
WHEREAS, federal mandates limit the percentage of ethanol contained in gasoline to ten percent; and
WHEREAS, the Environmental Protection Agency is currently considering a petition from ethanol producers to allow the gasoline sold for conventional cars and trucks to contain up to 15 percent ethanol; and
WHEREAS, it is indeterminate as to whether ethanol gasoline has long-term detrimental effects on certain engines; and
WHEREAS, further studies are needed to determine the long-term effects on engines that use gasoline containing ethanol.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby memorialize the United States Congress to take such actions as are necessary to maintain the 10- percent cap on the percentage of ethanol in gasoline.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the presiding officers of the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States of America and to each member of the Louisiana congressional delegation.
The “Study” resolution follows: (I informed Rep. Monica that I volunteered to work with the “study committee” when it convened):
HLS 10RS-2338 ORIGINAL
Regular Session, 2010
HOUSE STUDY REQUEST NO. 7
BY REPRESENTATIVE MONICA
PETROLEUM/OIL-GAS: Requests the House Committee on Commerce to study the effects that gasoline containing ethanol has on marine engines
A STUDY REQUEST
To the House Committee on Commerce to study the effects that gasoline containing ethanol has on marine engines and to report its findings to the House of Representatives prior to the convening of the 2011 Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana.
WHEREAS, ethanol is an alcohol, made from corn or grains, added to gasoline to oxygenate fuel at the gas pumps; and
WHEREAS, ethanol has been incorporated as an additive in most gasoline recently to help reduce the amount of consumption of crude oil and fossil fuels; and
WHEREAS, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 provided for mandates and incentives on clean renewable fuels that accelerated ethanol production; and
WHEREAS, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 further provided for an increase in the production of clean renewable fuels such as gasoline containing ethanol; and
WHEREAS, federal mandates limit the percentage of ethanol contained in gasoline to 10 percent; and
WHEREAS, ethanol’s effects vary depending on the engine type, model, and year and type of fuel system; and
WHEREAS, it is indeterminate as to whether ethanol gasoline has long-term detrimental effects on marine engines.
THEREFORE, the House of Representatives of the Legislature of Louisiana requests the House Committee on Commerce to study the effects that gasoline containing ethanol has on marine engines and to report its findings to the House of Representatives prior to the convening of the 2011 Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana.
