An Act Regarding Ethanol Motor Fuel
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 0824
Committee: Environment and Natural Resources
Sponsors: O'CONNOR, BRAKEY, BEAVERS, BLACK, CHACE, COREY, CRAFTS, ESPLING, FARRIN, FOLEY, GERRISH, GILBERT, GINZLER, HANLEY, HEAD, HOBART, KINNEY, LOCKMAN, LONG, LONGSTAFF, LYFORD, MAKER, PETERSON, PICCHIOTTI, PICKETT, PIERCE, REED, RUSSELL, SIROCKI, SKOLFIELD, STEARNS, THERIAULT, TIMBERLAKE, TUELL, VACHON, WARD, DAVIS, EDGECOMB, WHITTEMORE, WOODSOME
Amends: 10 MRSA §1457

Legislative Document 
No. 824 
H.P. 558 
House of Representatives, March 10, 2015 
An Act Regarding Ethanol Motor Fuel 
Reference to the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources suggested and ordered 
printed. 
ROBERT B. HUNT 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative O'CONNOR of Berwick. 
Cosponsored by Senator BRAKEY of Androscoggin and 
Representatives: BEAVERS of South Berwick, BLACK of Wilton, CHACE of Durham, 
COREY of Windham, CRAFTS of Lisbon, ESPLING of New Gloucester, FARRIN of 
Norridgewock, FOLEY of Wells, GERRISH of Lebanon, GILBERT of Jay, GINZLER of 
Bridgton, HANLEY of Pittston, HEAD of Bethel, HOBART of Bowdoinham, KINNEY of 
Knox, LOCKMAN of Amherst, LONG of Sherman, LONGSTAFF of Waterville, LYFORD of 
Eddington, MAKER of Calais, McCLELLAN of Raymond, PETERSON of Rumford, 
PICCHIOTTI of Fairfield, PICKETT of Dixfield, PIERCE of Dresden, REED of Carmel, 
RUSSELL of Portland, SIROCKI of Scarborough, SKOLFIELD of Weld, STEARNS of 
Guilford, THERIAULT of China, TIMBERLAKE of Turner, TUELL of East Machias, 
VACHON of Scarborough, WARD of Dedham, Senators: DAVIS of Piscataquis, 
EDGECOMB of Aroostook, WHITTEMORE of Somerset, WOODSOME of York. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  10 MRSA §1457, sub-§4 is enacted to read: 
4.  Conventional motor fuel.  Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, 
a motor fuel distributor, franchisor or refiner may not impose any condition, restriction, 
agreement or understanding that prohibits or limits the sale, resale, transfer or purchase of 
conventional, ethanol-free motor fuel products in the State. 
Sec. 2.  Stakeholder group; report.  The Commissioner of Environmental 
Protection, referred to in this section as "the commissioner," shall convene a stakeholder 
group to conduct a study regarding motor fuel and fuel additives, including but not 
limited to acetaldehyde in ethanol motor fuel.  The commissioner, the Commissioner of 
Transportation, the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development and the 
chair of the Public Utilities Commission, or their designees, shall serve as members of the 
stakeholder group, and the commissioner shall invite the participation of interested 
persons and groups, including but not limited to consumer protection groups, small 
businesses, motor vehicle dealers and owners of motor fuel refueling stations.  The 
stakeholder group shall specifically: 
1.  Review the extent to which the State is in compliance with the federal Clean Air 
Act Amendments of 1990 with respect to the emissions of acetaldehyde produced by the 
combustion of ethanol motor fuel; 
2.  Examine whether an increase from 10% ethanol to 15% ethanol in gasoline blends 
will increase the level of acetaldehyde emissions and decrease the State's ability to 
comply with the federal Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990; 
3.  Conduct a comprehensive review of the statewide costs associated with 
acetaldehyde in ethanol motor fuel, including but not limited to the corrosive effects of 
acetaldehyde on small engines, the effects of acetaldehyde on marine resources in the 
State and the negative impact such effects have on business in the State; 
4.  Examine the impact of federal subsidies for corn used to produce ethanol on the 
cost of food locally and globally; 
5.  Compare the net energy value of corn-derived ethanol to that of ethanol derived 
from other products, such as other grains or algae; 
6.  Explore alternatives to ethanol motor fuel, including but not limited to biofuels 
developed from wood pulp; and 
7.  Develop a plan to reduce the supply of ethanol motor fuel in the State. 
The commissioner shall report the stakeholder group's findings and recommendations 
regarding the study, including any proposed implementing legislation, to the Joint 
Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources by December 1, 2015.  The 
committee may report out a bill relating to those recommendations to the Second Regular 
Session of the 127th Legislature. 
SUMMARY 
This bill amends the law regarding ethanol-enhanced motor fuel to clarify that a 
motor fuel distributor, franchisor or refiner may not impose any condition, restriction, 
agreement or understanding that prohibits or limits the sale, resale, transfer or purchase of 
conventional, ethanol-free motor fuel products in the State.  The bill also directs the 
Commissioner of Environmental Protection to convene a stakeholder group to conduct a 
study regarding motor fuel and fuel additives, including but not limited to acetaldehyde in 
ethanol motor fuel.  The stakeholder group is directed to study the State's compliance 
with the federal Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 with respect to emissions of 
acetaldehyde produced by the combustion of ethanol motor fuel, and conduct a 
comprehensive review of the statewide costs associated with the acetaldehyde in ethanol 
motor fuel, including the corrosive effects of acetaldehyde on small engines, the effects 
of acetaldehyde on marine resources in the State and the negative impact such effects 
have on business in the State.  The commissioner shall report the stakeholder group's 
findings to the Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources by 
December 1, 2015.  The committee may report out a bill to the Second Regular Session of 
the 127th Legislature.