Washington, DC: Today Congressman Bob Goodlatte was joined by many other Members of Congress in sending a letter to President Barack Obama, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson urging them not to approve the current request submitted to EPA to increase the ethanol blend in gasoline. Raising the ethanol blend above 10% could result in serious economic consequences that could negatively affect already struggling American consumers.

“Raising the ethanol blend requirement could decrease automobiles’ fuel economy while at the same time increasing food costs for all Americans,” said Congressman Goodlatte.  “These are real consequences that must be addressed, especially given this tough economic time.  Before EPA makes a decision on increasing the ethanol blend, they should examine how an increase in the blend requirement will affect fuel economy of vehicles and already rising food costs.”
 
Since ethanol has lower energy content per gallon more fuel is required to travel the same distance, which will mean drivers will have to fill their gas tanks more frequently.  In fact, the Department of Energy (DOE) has begun assessing the use of ethanol blends and their effects on vehicle performance.  In their recent report, the DOE tested 13 different vehicles with ethanol blends up to 20% and, on average, fuel economy of the vehicles decreased by over 7 percent.  
 
Additionally, the letter calls on EPA to examine how an increase in the ethanol blend will affect other aspects of our economy, such as food prices.  Ethanol is a major driver of corn prices.  Last year we saw the price of corn reach record highs resulting in increased costs for consumers and livestock producers.  As a result of the record corn prices, food prices increased as farmers shifted land from these commodities to plant corn.  Increasing the ethanol blend will only further exacerbate this problem.

Goodlatte continued, “While I am a strong supporter of renewable fuels, increasing the ethanol blend will have unintended consequences for many Americans.”