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Oil industry behind false claims on E15

A recent op-ed, "Put the brakes on mandatory E15," promoted several faulty claims about renewable fuel like ethanol-blended gasoline.

It claimed that 90 percent of cars today cannot handle E15. In fact, the opposite is true. E15 is approved for use in cars model year 2001 and newer, which represents well over 84 percent of vehicles on the road today.

The piece also alleges that E15 is more expensive and damages our engines. These are no more than old oil industry talking points that have been debunked over and over again. There have been zero reports of engine damage or misfueling as a result of using E15.

Increasing access to E15 would benefit our economy, not hinder it. The fact is, E15 is less expensive than regular gasoline. Ethanol blends like E15 create competition and drive down the cost of gasoline, saving consumers money regardless of what fuel they choose to fill up with.

Besides, renewable fuel is made right here at home, which means that it is less expensive, and insulates gas prices from volatility in the unstable global oil market. E15 is a higher octane fuel so it's actually better for engines than regular gasoline.

That's why NASCAR has raced over 7 million miles on E15. It's also the most tested fuel in history, running over 6 million miles for Department of Energy research.

The renewable fuel sector is responsible for more than 73,000 jobs in Illinois each year and generates $17.5 billion in annual economic output in the state. Policies like America's Renewable Fuel Standard-and the proposed ordinance that would make E15 available in Chicago are what make access to those clean, homegrown fuels possible.

But the oil industry would rather maintain its monopoly on transportation fuel than support Illinois and allow American drivers a choice.

Tom Buis, CEO, Growth Energy

Washington, D.C.

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