By Bill Delahunt, former Member of Congress (D-MA), and veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve
If there is one thing I learned during my 14 years in Congress, it’s don’t always believe what you hear. There is no better example than the myth that ethanol and boat engines don’t mix.
Every gallon of gasoline in Massachusetts now contains 10 percent ethanol, a renewable fuel made from plants. In this country, much of it is made from corn – not the corn we eat, but industrial corn also used to make biodegradable cups and non-toxic chemicals. Advanced ethanol made from organic residue and even trash is now coming online and represents the future of the industry.
There is a lot to like about ethanol. It displaces cancer-causing chemicals in gasoline like benzene. It replaced MTBE, which polluted drinking water throughout the 1990s. Just this year, ExxonMobil was required to pay millions for the delivery of clean water to a local elementary school in Worcester County, Massachusetts. And every gallon of ethanol used is a gallon of foreign oil not used.
Some voices in the boating community say these benefits come with a cost, often pointing to water, hose, or fuel degradation issues for marine engines. But even by the low standards of today’s political discourse, there is an extraordinary gap between fact and fiction on this issue.
The ethanol blend at your local gas station and marina is the same blend (E10) that every major manufacturer – Kawasaki, Mercury Marine, OMC, Pleasurecraft, Tigershark, Tracker, Honda, Yamaha, and others – approves for use in its marine engines.
And ethanol doesn’t attract water. Mercury Marine called E10 a “superior marine fuel” in comparison to ethanol-free gasoline because it helps keep the fuel system dry. Perhaps that’s why the National Boat Racing Association exclusively uses E10 for all their races.
Honest brokers in boating admit that E10 is a good fuel. But new 15 percent blends (E15) tend to make them nervous. Except that E15 is not certified for marine engines. Truth be told, you cannot even buy E15 in the Northeast as of yet. When it comes, federal law requires that it be sold with a giant orange sticker to prevent misfueling. You won’t miss it.
If you want to know the real story, the fuss over ethanol and boats is actually part of an oil-industry funded PR campaign designed to weaken support for renewable fuels.
A federal policy enacted a decade ago called the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) made us less reliant on foreign oil, reduced the price at the pump, and lowered carbon emissions. It forces the oil industry to offer new and renewable fuel blends at the pump. The U.S. renewable fuel industry now employs hundreds of thousands of Americans and last year reduced foreign oil dependence by the equivalent of what we import from Saudi Arabia annually. Simply put, more of our fuel dollars are staying here.
It is hardly a surprise to see the oil industry spinning people to try to weaken support for the RFS. Their effort to frighten boaters and other consumers is designed to help convince policymakers to turn their backs on green energy programs like the RFS.
It is disappointing, however, to see BoatUS and the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) regurgitating myths about ethanol. Facts are facts, and these groups are being duped. It’s time for the stakeholders to meet face to face and once and for all to set the record straight.
My advice to boat owners is to ask a lot of questions if someone tries to blame ethanol for expensive engine work. And be careful about “revolutionary” additives claiming to fix problems that don’t exist. Mercury says that consumers should look at these products “with a high degree of suspicion.” Good advice, because some of these “solutions” cost more than $100 per gallon.
As a lifelong New Englander, I am proud to be working to protect the renewable fuel industry. Consumer choice is a good thing. Lower gas prices and reduced foreign oil dependence are essential. New manufacturing jobs in the energy sector must be protected and expanded.
Ultimately, the ethanol-boating issue comes down to common sense. Be suspicious of dubious claims and naysayers, especially if they have their eyes on your wallet.
[easy-social-share]