EPA Increases Ethanol Volumes Under the Renewable Fuel Standard

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has increased the ethanol volume under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) by .05 percent over the 2017 standard, despite calls from recreational boaters and other industries to reduce the mandate.

The RFS requires blending biofuels in the gasoline supply and was set in 2005 under the assumption Americans would continue to use more and more fuel. That prediction, however, has not held true, meaning more ethanol is going into each gallon of fuel. Only ethanol blends of ten percent are allowed to be used in recreational boat engines, but with higher blends available at the pump, there is an increased chance of boaters misfuelling and damaging their engines.

Organizations such as BoatUS, National Marine Manufacturers Association and Marine Retailers Association of America continue to lobby to change the RFS to protect boaters.