Not satisfied by the high food prices that 10% Ethanol gasoline has wrought, the farmers and ethanol-makers are now petitioning the EPA to approve 15% ethanol on the way to 25%. Not only will this raise the price of food stuffs in the U.S., it will ruin most marine engines. Not one engine manufacturer approves the use of their engines with gasoline with a mixture greater than 10% ethanol. There are 18 million boats currently in operation in the U.S., and none of them have been designed, certified or warranted to run on anything above E10. Already, with just 10% ethanol, the engine makers are inundated with service and repair problems that have stretched their reduced staffs to the breaking point. Boaters across America have had to pay for new carburetors, seals, O-rings, valves and fuel tank replacements. Unless all boaters act swiftly and with passion, the well-financed “ethanol lobby” will steamroll the EPA into 15% ethanol. Last year boaters were able to defeat an onerous EPA measure in Congress, and this year we again call on you to register your thoughts again to defeat the 15% ethanol proposal.

On March 6, 2009, a new pro-ethanol lobbying organization called Growth Energy and 54 ethanol manufacturers formally requested that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) increase ethanol blend levels in gasoline up to 15 percent (E15). As is required by law, EPA on April 21 published a Notice for Comment in the Federal Register, beginning a 30-day public comment period. On May 15, EPA extended the comment period. The original public comment period was slated to end on May 21, 2009 but will now be extended to July 20, 2009.

NMMA needs your help.

Ethanol Advocates are mobilizing their forces to submit 20,000 favorable comments to EPA requesting that the Agency grant a waiver for E15.
Let's beat them at their own game. There are 18 million boats currently in operation in the U.S., and none of them has been designed, certified or warranted to run on anything above E10, the current maximum legal blend level. Boaters know very well that increased ethanol blends will cause performance problems with their boats and engines, increase maintenance costs, potentially pose safety risks and increase air pollution.  E15 will also void manufacturer warranties. 
And yet, neither EPA nor any other federal agency has done a single test on the impacts of E15 on marine engines, fuel systems, or components. We ask you to support a science first approach and urge EPA to deny the ethanol industry's E15 waiver request unless and until independent and comprehensive scientific testing is completed on a full range of marine engines and other products.