No substantive action was taken by EPA to resolve this issue. They have simply come up with a proposal that looks good on the surface, and passed on the responsibility for dealing with the issue to Congress. We had an opportunity to make a real statement about our government s commitment to clean air, fighting high fuel prices, and energy self sufficiency and all we got was election year politics, Marshall said. Petroleum companies continue to tell EPA and the Administration they can meet federal clean air guidelines without using oxygenates. The proposal also asks Congress to replace the existing oxygenate requirement in the Clean Air Act with a renewable fuel standard for all gasoline.
Ethanol is the only renewable source.
There is nothing wrong with this concept, except it is unrealistic in a Presidential election year. The Administration is throwing this issue back at Congress, knowing it will stall and Congress will take the blame. The Administration has the authority to resolve this issue today, Marshall said.