DEP drafting ban on new ethanol-blend fuels
Maine's Department of Environmental Protection is drafting a bill to ban a new gasoline-ethanol blend if two other New England states do the same.
The Bangor Daily News reported that the state's DEP is drafting the legislation out of concern over a gasoline blend that contains 15% ethanol, called E15, that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved in June.
While the fuel is available only at 10 gas stations in Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska, state officials have concern that there will be an increased push from federal officials to use the more ethanol-heavy gasoline blend.
Controversy over the new fuel largely deals with consumer automobiles and other vehicles with small engines, which the American Automobile Association has said can't handle the new fuel mix.
That debate has raised controversy with ethanol's supporters as the AAA has warned that many car manufacturers' warranties will not cover damages related to the E15 fuel.
The draft DEP legislation would ban the fuel in Maine only if at least two other New England states pass similar bans.
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