In a blog post earlier this month Kristy Moore of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) took some shots at testing by the Coordinating Research Council (CRC) that showed higher levels of ethanol in fuel could damage the engines of millions of U.S. vehicles. A separate CRC study found that higher ethanol blends also could damage fuel pump systems, potentially leaving motorists stranded on the road and/or stuck with repair bills.

Obviously, both findings complicate RFA’s mission to increase ethanol use – which explains RFA’s cavalier dismissal of sound research and sound science, as well as its disingenuous defense of mandates in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), which is forcing more ethanol on the public than is safe.

Moore’s post, “A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words: CRC’s Engi... more »

Bloomberg – Crude Output Exceeds Imports for First Time in 16 Years

The surge in U.S. shale development through hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling in North Dakota, Oklahoma and Texas has boosted domestic oil production – 7.3 million barrels a day  last week alone – to the highest level since 1986, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Fuel Fix Blog – Feds Give More Time To Study Proposed Drilling Rule

Last month API asked for an additional 90 days to study  BLM’s proposed rule governing hydraulic fracturing. Today, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said that she would allow an additional 60 days for stakeholders to review the proposed regulations.

The Daily Beast – U.S. Closing Trade Deficit With Better Oil numbers

The Daily Beast takes a look at how... more »

One of the frequent arguments from ethanol supporters is that the United States should simply follow the lead of Brazil and use a lot more ethanol in our fuel supply. Indeed, Vice President Joe Biden was full of praise for Brazil during remarks in Rio de Janeiro this week:

“You’re tapping your enormous natural resources, but also getting a greater share of your energy from clean and renewable energy sources than any other country in the world.  The rest of the world looks at you with envy, at the progress you’ve made. The hemisphere has much to learn from your experience.”

Underlying the praise is the implication that because Brazil has used ethanol blends of up to 25 volume percent for years with no negative effects on vehicle models that also are sold in the U.S., the U.S. coul... more »

Time to set the record straight on EPA’s premature approval of E15 fuel for the marketplace – necessitated by EPA administrator nominee Gina McCarthy’s recent inaccurate and misleading responses to Senate questions about E15 testing. McCarthy was asked:

“Was EPA aware of ongoing (Coordinating Research Council) testing on engine durability, fuel pumps and other engine components? Why not wait until that test was complete before making a decision? Because in the aftermath it looks like the decision was, at best, premature. The CRC data shows millions of approved vehicles are in danger of engine damage.”

Let’s take on the faulty claims in McCarthy’s written responses in turn:

EPA or the Energy Department was “expressly denied” a role in CRC’s E15 testing program: False

• EPA, D... more »

Breaking Energy – Sieminski: U.S. Tight Oil Growth Helping Lower Global Crude Price

U.S. tight oil production has helped to shave about $20-$25 per barrel from Brent crude oil prices, and continued output growth could  further impact global pricing, says  Energy Information Administration Administrator Adam Sieminski.

E! Science News – Groundwater Unaffected by Shale Gas Production in Arkansas

Duke University and U.S. Geological Survey scientists sampled 127 shallow drinking water wells in areas overlying Fayetteville Shale gas production in north-central Arkansas and found no ground water contamination from hydraulic fracturing.

AEI Ideas/Carpe Diem Blog – North Dakota Sets New Oil Production Record in March

Mark J. Perry writes that March was another record-setting month f... more »