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In reply to the discussion: 'A promise has been kept': Trump is cheered in Council Bluffs after lifting ethanol ban [View all]SunSeeker
(51,295 posts)Ethanol is a biofuel that can be made from an array of starchy plants but is most commonly made by fermenting corn. Mixing gasoline with a greater percentage of ethanol increases the overall volatility of the fuel, resulting in more emissions that react with sunlight to create smog. In some regions, ethanol fuels can be cheaper per gallon at the pump, but they can result in reduced fuel economy, meaning they may not be a better deal for some consumers by the mile. In the mid-2000s, legislation aimed at reducing U.S. dependence on foreign oil and decreasing fossil fuel emissions established the Renewable Fuel Standard program. Since then, incorporating biofuels like ethanol into the U.S. energy mix has been federally mandated. But E15s contribution to air pollution led to the EPA banning it during summer months in 2011. https://grist.org/article/ethanol-fuel-e15-big-oil-climate-summer-epa/