Vilsack: US Should boost Ethanol use

[AndrewJ]

The Associated Press: Vilsack: US should boost ethanol blend in gasoline

Vilsack: US should boost ethanol blend in gasoline
By MARY CLARE JALONICK – 17 hours ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says the government should move quickly to increase the amount of ethanol allowed in gasoline.
Ethanol producers asked the Environmental Protection Agency last week to increase the amount of ethanol that refiners can blend with gasoline from a maximum of 10 percent to 15 percent, which could boost the demand for the renewable fuel additive by as much as 6 billion gallons a year. However, automobile and small engine manufacturers have said there's no certainty yet that such an increase will not harm engines and fuel lines.
"We can, we believe, move fairly quickly to move the blend rate to 12 or 13 percent in the interim," Vilsack told a friendly audience of farmers on Monday, adding that it could eventually be boosted to 15 percent or 20 percent.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said she also supports raising the cap after a separate speech to the group.
"It seems to me we should be able to do that," she said.
It is up to the EPA to lift the cap. Adora Andy, the EPA's press secretary, said in a statement Friday that the agency will review the request and "act based on the best available science."
The ethanol producers contend that raising the maximum amount of ethanol allowed in a gallon of gasoline would increase demand for the fuel additive and create thousands of new jobs as the industry — which has been reeling in today's tough economic times — boosts production.
Vilsack and Pelosi spoke to the National Farmers Union annual convention Monday in Arlington, Va.
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Whatever happened to Michael Pollan for USDA secretary?

[Frank Lee]

It sounds good to me.

[robbiewt]

Is this an attempt to stabilize the price of corn?

[round.boater]

What a crock. Mandated use as well as price subsidies! It's time to ditch the subsidy, and steer clear of too much corn-based fuel. Clean water is just as valuable as oil. Using precious water to grow corn for fuel makes no sense. Algae bio-diesel I can get behind, but this is just an Iowa good 'ol boy giving a kick-back to the home state.

[Domman56]

Now i was just about to post a thread about this until i ran across this one. I've talked to alot of muscle car guys and heard from a few of you guys on here that With E85 as long as you advance your timing to work with it right it helps your car and runs stronger. I'm stoked about the 15 percent ethanol since my family owns older cars. As long as the timing is stepped up on the cars to work with it there should be no problems with this right?