The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute
(OPEI) continues to work on policy and edu-
cational initiatives to address the entry of mid-
level ethanol blends, E15 or otherwise, into the
U.S. general fuel supply. Our members and in-
dustry remain concerned about misfueling of
outdoor power equipment and other products,
which can result in product damage and poten-
tial safety issues. Here is an update on legislative
issues and activities.
Will EPA announce new blending require-
ments for ethanol this year?
On April 10, the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) announced a proposed settle-
ment with the American Petroleum Institute
and the American Fuel and Petrochemical
Manufacturers over deadlines for issuing an-
nual requirements under the Renewable Fuel
Standard (RFS) program. Under the proposed
consent decree, EPA would issue final annual
volume standards for 2014 and 2015 by the end
of this year. Although not required by the con-
sent decree, EPA will also finalize the standards
for 2016 in 2015.
The proposed consent decree does not ad-
dress the content or substance of the volume
standards, and it establishes the following
schedule:
By June 1, the agency will propose
volume requirements for 2015;
By November 30, EPA will finalize
volume requirements for 2014 and 2015 and
resolve a pending waiver petition for 2014.
EPA also announced the following:
EPA will propose and finalize the RFS
standards for 2016 on the same timeline (pro-
posal by June 1, final by November 30);
EPA will propose and finalize the RFS
biomass-based diesel volume requirement for
2017 on the same schedule; and
The agency will re-propose volume re-
quirements for 2014 that reflect the volumes of
renewable fuel that were actually used in 2014.
16 JUNE 2015 OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT www.outdoorpowerequipment.com
COVER STORY | Legislative Update
Ethanol-blended fuel remains
key issue for the OPE industry
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OPEI provides updates on legislative activity, educational initiatives
■ BY KRIS KISER, PRESIDENT AND CEO, OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT INSTITUTE
