More than three-quarters of voters are worried that the Environmental Protection Agency’s biofuel standard will drive up the cost of gasoline and harm their car’s engine, according to a new poll.
The American Petroleum Institute released a new Harris poll Wednesday showing 77 percent of registered voters are concerned that breaking the so-called “blend wall” could end up increasing gas prices and reduce the country’s fuel supply.
The Renewable Fuel Standard requires biofuel to be added to the nation’s gasoline supply, and it’s mandated by Congress. Because that standard is a total amount and not a percentage of the gasoline supply, it can push past the “blend wall.”
The “blend wall” is the term used to describe the point at which a vehicle’s engine is harmed by the amount of biofuel added to the gasoline supply. If more than 10 percent of fuel is biofuel, usually corn ethanol, it can cause damage to engines.
But the latest Renewable Fuel Standard handed down by the EPA last year would push past the blend wall.
“American voters are very concerned about the costs and consequences of this unworkable and unnecessary mandate,” said Frank Macchhiarola, the institute’s downstream group director.
According to the Harris poll, 77 percent of voters are concerned carmakers won’t provide warranty coverage for damage caused by fuel that contains more than 10 percent biofuel. While some vehicles are designed to handle such high biofuel contents, most American vehicles are not.
The poll also shows 75 percent of respondents are worried about diverting corn to energy production instead of using it for food. They worry rising food costs will contribute to world hunger.
“We will use this poll to remind members of Congress and the administration that American voters are very concerned about the costs and consequences of this unworkable and unnecessary mandate,” Macchiarola said.
The poll was done between March 22-29 of 1,013 registered voters and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent.
The Renewable Fuels Association immediately pushed back against the poll’s findings, calling it a “phony faux poll.”
Bob Dinneen, the president and CEO of the association, said the questions in the polls were opinionated and biased the responses. He also added that some of the statements in the polls, such as food prices increasing 25 percent, were incorrect. Food prices have increased just 2.7 percent since 2005, he said.
Dinneen said Morning Consult’s poll from April 1-3 showed a better view of the public’s view of the Renewable Fuel Standard. In that poll, 57 percent of voters supported the standard and only 19 percent opposed it.
“With these growing levels of support for biofuels, it’s no wonder that API President Jack Gerard told Politico’s Morning Energy last month that the organization was pivoting its strategy toward reforming, rather than repealing, the RFS,” Dinneen said. “API can’t continue to support repeal because Americans want more fuel choice, not less.”
