Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/173871
most recently the potential of isobutanol as an alternative to ethanol. Under a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, industry researchers have been evaluating isobutanol with overwhelmingly positive results. Testing a 16-percent isobutanol blend (B16), they've found that B16 has more energy content than ethanol and creates similar emission levels to those of E10. At the same here's probably been no industry issue that time, it doesn't have the negahas garnered more attention in recent years tives effects of engine corrosion than E15. and phase separation that are From lawsuits to legislative efforts, people, encountered with ethanol, escompanies and associations throughout the pecially E15. marine industry have been working to keep the The group tested B16 and 15-percent ethanol blend out of marine engines. E10 on a number of different While the Environmental Protection engines ranging from 10 hp to Agency has said E15 should not be used in 200 hp from Tohatsu, Mermarine engines, there are significant concerns cury and Evinrude, for 350 about misfueling and mislabeling. For more hours per engine. They even on E15, check out the April and July issues of ran isobutanol through a 1999 Boating Industry, as well as our continuing cov150-hp Johnson outboard that Evinrude still erage on BoatingIndustry.com. had in storage. John McKnight has been at the forefront of "It's a much better biofuel than ethanol," McKthese efforts for years, working on the research night said. "We know that anything over E10 is side of the problem as the National Marine Mangoing to be a problem for millions of people." ufacturer Association's director of environmental It's important to note that the industry is not and safety compliance. Along with representaagainst protecting the environment as some have tives from engine makers and others in the inpainted it during the E15 dispute, McKnight dustry, McKnight has been leading the research said. Instead, it's about finding the best solution, into the damage E15 causes as well as alternadriven by science and sound research. tives to the fuel. "We need to take a timeout and take a look "I always say, 'Let's get good data,'" McKat where we want to go as a nation as far as fuel," night said. "Let's start collecting good data so he said. "Our goal is to just have a fuel that works when we go up to the hill, we have our ducks for us. We can protect the environment and at in a row." the same time have our consumers have a posiIt's an approach McKnight has advocated tive boating experience." since coming to the NMMA in 1994. That's This year, the industry's research has focused when he was hired out of the chemical industry on a tri-fuel blend of 87 percent gasoline, 8 perto work on the pending engine rules as the macent isobutanol and 5 percent ethanol. That may rine industry had its first major brush with regube a promising way to introlators. He has worked at both duce isobutanol into the marthe federal and state levels, and ket, McKnight said. has lead the NMMA's engineThe problem with isobumaker members through netanol at this point is one of gotiations with several groups, availability, with only small including the California Air Requantities currently being prosources Board (CARB). » More energy created by duced. The two major compaNow his attention is isobutanol than ethanol in nies working in the market are squarely on the fuel issue, FINALISTS JOHN MCKNIGHT, DIRECTOR ENVIRONMENTAL & SAFETY COMPLIANCE NATIONAL MARINE MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION t 30% industry testing www.BoatingIndustry.com P14x20-BI13OCT-MoversRoch.indd 19 "We can protect the environment and at the same time have our consumers have a positive boating experience." – John McKnight, Director Gevo, which is converting ethanol plants to isobutanol, and Butamax, a joint venture between BP and DuPont. "If they can start making it in quantities that make sense, there are benefits that butane provides that ethanol doesn't," McKnight said. Whatever happens with isobutanol, the research-based approach to the issue has paid dividends for the marine industry, grabbing the attention of legislators as they debate revamping the Renewable Fuel Standard. "Congress is calling NMMA and saying, 'Can you come up and talk to us?'" McKnight said. "There are a lot of followers in this discussion, but we're leading." October 2013 | Boating Industry | 19 9/5/13 11:37 AM