EPA can slash the use of ethanol in gasoline

By Paul A. Eisenstein, the Detroit Bureau
The EPA can be shifted from the use of ethanol to reduce to drought affected holdings corn.

Only months before, was the EPA press hard to expand the use of ethanol in gasoline supply of the country, but in the wake of the severe drought this summer, and can course return to soon the agency actually trim due to lack on corn used to produce the renewable fuel.

Senator Orrin Hatch, an influential Republican of Utah, calls for the EPA to reduce the ethanol requirements, as have 200 members of the House and the Governors of eight corn-producing States this week. After a former President George W. Bush signed 2007 law 15.2 billion gallons of ethanol would this year with the plan, more than twice as 2022 used.

But the viability of this plan came under sharp control, as yesterday, the U.S. Department of agriculture forecast farm grain output forecasts next year global corn stocks are 5.4 percent - the lowest level in 39 years strongly declined. The USDA warned that only 23 percent of the American corn crop yields in "good" or "excellent" form, are compared to 70 percent in the past year.

Sent the prices for corn, the spiral upwards. Luke and others hope that by at least reducing the potential demand for corn stocks for fuel demand price - level can use which could in turn drive a spiral of inflation rates to prevent a total U.S..

"In the face of the maize shortages and escalating prices on the widespread droughts in the United States brought, I urge you to exercise your cancellation authority, to modify the corn-ethanol requirements for renewable fuel standards" hatch wrote in a letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson.

Ironically were Luke and other demands energy now on the EPA on ethanol use again from proponents of the 2007 independence Securities Act - you both reduce dependence on foreign oil while American farmers through the better use which was renewable fuels mandating aimed also rely.

In the passing of the EPA, was expected to draw 5 billion of ethanol in the fuel supply for 2007 but 15.2 billion gallons this year reached the sliding scale. And it will peak at 36 billion gallons by 2022.

The law was designed to reassure skeptics who thought that even in good times on the farm too much corn into fuel would be redirected. 2022 A full 21 billion liters ethanol are from so-called cellulose production come. Still under development, new production facilities have turned to a variety of alternatives to corn, of waste paper up to grain chaff, normally not in the food supply are used.

The EPA has fought ironically, ways expectations - find the demand of consumers for ethanol to meet the mandate, as has afterwards although subsidies keep the price per gallon below the regular unleaded gasoline.

The Agency has increased the amount of ethanol in regular gas in use. And last year approved rules, produced such fuels in older cars, before the industry upgrade their fuel systems began to tolerate use of alcohol-based fuels would require. Ethanol, like other alcohols is highly corrosive and decision makers now use special stainless steel or modified synthetic fuel line and engine components to withstand damage. Critics continue to deny claims EPA, that the recent increase in the ethanol content sure for older vehicles and other products - ATVs, chainsaws - petrol run on are.

While a number of countries join the call of total ethanol reducing use this coming year, including the Governors of Maryland and Delaware, where large poultry operations could by increasing children's beds of hard hit are not every echoes this sentiment.

The Michigan Farm Bureau is the request to oppose. In fact, some farm States hopes see corn prices in the coming months to help who could put some farmers out of business offset lower yields in their local cultures. A report in the Detroit News pointed out that Michigan five ethanol refineries 98 million bushel corn annually used - compared to a combined 70 million for livestock, feed, milk and poultry.

The EPA is expected to ruled with in early November on the ethanol waiver request.