Many environmental activists have expressed concern that ethanol is harmful to the environment, despite the USDA's claim that E15 is a green fuel.

Shannon Longworth Reporter

Environmental activists take issue with Biden’s E15 gas approval

Apr 15, 2022

Shannon Longworth Reporter

By Shannon Longworth (Reporter), Emma Stoltzfus (Editor)

President Biden has publicly supported the use of E15 gasoline by backing the Environmental Protection Agency’s waiver to allow stations to sell it in the summer months. Many environmental activists have expressed concern that ethanol is harmful to the environment, despite the USDA’s initial claim that E15 is a green type of fuel.

Ethanol-based gas does, in fact, emit less carbon dioxide when when used by vehicles. But ethanol is made from corn, and the additional growth and processing of corn emits carbon dioxide.

Ultimately, E15 is at least 25 percent more carbon-intensive than regular gas, according to a recent study funded by the National Wildlife Federation. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas, which contributes to climate change. Many of the activists have pointed out that President Biden’s stance on E15 appears to contradict the environmental protection platform he touted in the election.

IN PART ONE, I EXPLAINED WHY YOU COULD SUDDENLY SEE E15 GAS AS AN OPTION THIS SUMMER.

SO WHY’S IT SUCH A BOLD MOVE FOR BIDEN?

WELL, IN CASE YOU FORGOT–BIDEN RAN ON A PLATFORM PRIORITIZING CLEAN ENERGY AND COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE.

NOW THAT GAS PRICES ARE UP, MANY SAY HE’S SWITCHING HIS STANCE ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION BY BACKING E15.

BUT IT’S NOT SO SIMPLE.

WHEN WE’RE TALKING ABOUT AIR POLLUTION, E15 IS BOTH GOOD AND BAD. THE SMOG IS BAD, WHILE THE SUPPOSED DECREASE IN CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS IS GOOD.

CO-2 EMISSIONS ARE WHAT CONTRIBUTE TO CLIMATE CHANGE. SO, FOR YEARS, THE GENERAL UNDERSTANDING AND USDA ASSERTION WAS THAT E-15 IS BETTER FOR THE CLIMATE.

BUT A RECENT STUDY SAYS “NOPE. NOT TRUE.”

THE STUDY–FUNDED BY THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION–SAYS ETHANOL-BASED FUEL IS AT LEAST 24 PERCENT MORE CARBON-INTENSIVE THAN REGULAR GAS SIMPLY BECAUSE THE PROCESS TO MAKE IT EMITS CO-2. GROWING AND HARVESTING THAT EXTRA CORN TO MAKE ETHANOL CONTRIBUTES TO OUR CHANGING CLIMATE.

SO, IS BIDEN SELLING OUT ON HIS ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND

JUST LOOKING FOR A POLITICAL DUB WITH CHEAPER GAS? LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS BELOW.