E15: Cheaper ethanol option revives controversy as gas prices peak

LONGWORTH: OKAY, WE ALL KNOW GAS PRICES ARE HIGH RIGHT NOW.

WHILE YOU’RE LIKELY ALREADY REACHING FOR THE CHEAPEST OPTION–REGULAR–SOON YOU COULD HAVE YET A CHEAPER CHOICE.

E15 GASOLINE.

WHAT IS IT?

LET’S GET THIS STRAIGHT.

E15 IS A BLEND THAT HAS A HIGHER LEVEL OF ETHANOL THAN REGULAR GAS DOES–15% TO BE PRECISE.

THE PERCENTAGES VARY – BUT UNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, THE EPA ANNOUNCED IT WILL ALLOW STATIONS TO OFFER E-15 THROUGH THE SUMMER. THAT’S A BIG DEAL BECAUSE, NORMALLY, IT’S NOT AVAILABLE BETWEEN JUNE AND SEPTEMBER.

WHY?

WELL, EVAPORATED E15 PARTICLES REACT WITH SUNLIGHT TO FORM SMOG. IN THE SUMMER, THERE’S MORE SUNLIGHT, SO ADD E15…AND YOU’LL GET SOME NOT-SO-NICE AIR POLLUTION.

SMOG CAN BE HARMFUL FOR THOSE WITH RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES…LIKE ASTHMA.

BUT, ON THE FLIP SIDE, RESEARCH SHOWS CARS RUNNING ON ETHANOL-BASED FUEL RELEASE FEWER GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS…THOSE ARE WHAT TRAP HEAT AND CAUSE CLIMATE CHANGE.

SO THAT’S WHY THE FUEL ITSELF IS CONTROVERSIAL. WHY’S IT AN ISSUE FOR BIDEN’S PLATFORM? CHECK OUT PART 2.