EPA Just Declared War On Millions Of Car Owners

EPA Just Declared War On Millions Of Car Owners | Stock News & Stock Market Analysis - IBD
"The EPA wants to boost the amount of ethanol mixed in with gasoline, which could damage millions of car engines. (AP)
Energy: The EPA’s proposal to increase the amount of ethanol that must be blended into gasoline is a trifecta of regulatory abuse.
It will do nothing for the environment, it will do nothing for energy security, and it could wreck millions of car engines.
The decision stems from a misbegotten 2007 energy bill signed by President Bush that requires ever-increasing amounts of ethanol to be included in gasoline.
Not an increasing percentage, but an actual amount.
The EPA’s proposal would require refineries to blend in almost 19 billion gallons of ethanol and other “biofuels” by 2017, which is 700,000 gallons more than they do now.
But there’s a problem. Americans aren’t consuming enough gasoline.
In fact, consumption this year is well below the 2007 forecast, both because cars are more efficient and because people are driving less than expected.
So, if oil refiners are to pump 19 billion gallons of ethanol into their gasoline supplies, they won’t be able to keep ethanol ratio below 10%.
Why does that matter? 
Because ethanol is corrosive and can degrade plastic, rubber and metal parts. 
And the more ethanol in gasoline, the most likely this damage will occur. 
So going above 10% can wreak havoc with car engines — as well as those in motorcycles, lawnmowers, power boats, you name it — that aren’t built to handle the higher ethanol levels.
...Oh, and by the way, diverting so much corn into gasoline tanks has raised the price of food, which hurts the poor.
So why is the EPA pushing ethanol? 
Does it help fight global warming?
Does it help cities fight smog?
Does it help the U.S. become more energy independent?
The answer is: None of the above.

• A 2011 study by the National Research Council found that ethanol use could boost overall CO2 emissions. An earlier study published in Science also found that, when you consider the impact of converting forests and grasslands to cornfields, ethanol sharply increases carbon emissions.
• Meanwhile, a 2007 study by a Stanford University environmental engineer found that increasing ethanol levels in gasoline can lead to more smog..."