American Motorcyclist Association's Anti-E15 Petition Gathers Nearly 8,000 Signatures

Nearly 8,000 individuals have joined the American Motorcyclist Association to oppose the spread of higher-ethanol blended fuels across the country.

The AMA is asking for signatures to its online petition that urges the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency not to increase the proposed renewable fuel volumes this year and, instead, to adopt lower mandates.

As of June 18, about 7,800 people had signed.

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The Renewable Fuel Standard proposals announced May 29 by the EPA would increase the risk of misfueling for motorcyclists and all-terrain-vehicle owners by forcing the widespread availability of higher-ethanol fuel blends, such as E15.

At the same time, the U.S. Department of Agriculture unveiled a $100 million plan to double the number of higher-blend renewable fuel pumps to market E15 and E85.

“The EPA calls for higher ethanol blended fuels, and the USDA spends taxpayer dollars to make it happen, despite knowing that none of the estimated 22 million motorcycles and ATVs in use in the United States is approved to use E15 or higher ethanol blends,” said Wayne Allard, AMA vice president for government relations. “Using those fuels in motorcycles and ATVs is illegal and may cause engine and fuel system damage and void the manufacturer’s warranty.”

The EPA opened a comment period to allow the public to voice its opinion on the proposed rule. The AMA plans to submit every name and address with its comments to the EPA on July 26.

“Our goal is to present more than 10,000 signatures supporting our stance against the wrongheaded policies of the EPA and the USDA on this matter,” Allard said. “There is nothing more powerful than thousands of riders joining to express their concern with unsafe fuel for their rides.”

Anyone can sign the AMA petition by visiting the AMA Federal Action Center here: http://bit.ly/1J4jGLG.

The EPA intends to take final action on this proposal by Nov. 30, which would return the agency to the program’s statutory timeline for issuing RFS annual rules.

9 COMMENTS

  1. I suggest you allow Canadians to add to the petition. We are as upset with alcohol addition to gasoline as you Americans and you can bet that if the US adds more alcohol, Canada will also. This petition is for bikers and I am one, but I have yard equipment that isn’t allowed to use alcohol gasoline. Remember also that many Canadians that tour the US on bikes will not do so if the only gasoline available has 15% alcohol. It is time someone talked to the corn farmer lobby, after all that is the source of this nonsense.

  2. Pleaze do not pass legislation to require E-15 gasoline. Technology does not require E-15…. It is only another subsidy that is not needed and will only encourage dependency on government (taxpayers) hand outs!

  3. Um. Eight thousand signatures? Is that a misprint? AMA has something like 200,000 members, and only 8,000 signed the petition?

  4. The fact is that ethanol doesn’t work!
    It requires more resources to make than any environmental savings it offers. It cost far more than gasoline to produce.
    Adding more ethanol to fuel blends will harm millions of cars and trucks as well as virtually every motorcycle, ATV and outboard in the current fleet.
    The only ones who will gain anything from ethanol are the heavily subsidized corn growing corporate farms.
    Not the American people, Not the environment !!!!!

    E15 is a travesty I urge my representatives to research the entire ethanol program before voting in favor of E15!!

    I also suggest they look at repealing an requirements for ethanol in our gas. In short it hasn’t delivered anything that was promised ,,,, NOT ONE THING.

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