Two groups oppose increasing U.S. ethanol blend rate

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Blending more than 10 percent ethanol into U.S. gasoline will result in more air pollution and more damage to engines, said an environmental group and a boating industry trade group on Monday.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) and the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) said evidence weighed against allowing a blend of up to 15 percent ethanol in gasoline.

The groups will forward their findings to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which is accepting comments until July 20 and has until December 1 to make a decision.

Ethanol is now approved to make up 10 percent of gasoline in cars and trucks. Producers are pushing the government to allow higher ethanol blend levels, as more ethanol will be required each year under federal law.

Congress required 10.5 billion gallons of ethanol to be blended into gasoline this year. The amount will rise annually toward 36 billion gallons a year in 2022.

Reuters