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Renewable Fuel Standard Policy Brief

Renewable Fuel Standard Policy Brief

Full Title: Renewable Fuel Standard Policy Brief
Author(s): Institute for Energy Research
Publisher(s): Institute for Energy Research
Publication Date: October 5, 2020
Full Text: Download Resource
Description (excerpt):

Most motor gasoline sold in the United States contains up to 10 percent ethanol (E10).
Under free market conditions, some ethanol is added to gasoline for its value as an
oxygenate, creating a cleaner burning fuel and raising the octane rating of motor
gasoline, which is useful in today’s higher compression, more efficient engines. The
Renewable Fuel Standard, combined with other subsidies and mandates from both state
and federal governments, has increased the amount of ethanol blended into the nation’s
fuel supply beyond what would occur in a free market.

The use of ethanol can be problematic. Ethanol is corrosive to rubber and certain
metals and can damage the fuel lines of boats, lawnmowers, and other small engine
equipment. Ethanol also attracts and bonds with water from the air, and that water can
separate inside a fuel tank, forming a brown goo that can clog pumps and filters. For
this reason, there are regulations and guidelines for which engines can tolerate varying
percentage ethanol in fuels. Newer vehicles are generally designed to tolerate lower
percentage ethanol blends

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