WASHINGTON — The Renewable Fuels Association’s President and CEO Bob Dinneen criticized AAA’s call for the Environmental Protection Agency to lower the 2014 blending requirements, claiming higher level ethanol blends will hurt consumers. E15 (15 percent ethanol, 85 percent gasoline) is the most tested fuel additive in EPA history and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory recently reviewed over 40 studies on E15, concluding no evidence of E15 damage on engines.

“AAA needs to stop being the puppet of Big Oil, and put consumers first. The Energy Department and more than 40 studies say that more than 60 percent of cars on the road today can safely use E15. More than 40 million miles have been driven on E15 without a single complaint. If Big Oil – and AAA – would stop obstructing consumer choice, American drivers could have access to a choice of higher level ethanol blends that are less expensive, yet higher in octane. The Renewable Fuel Standard is the single most effective energy policy this country has. There is absolutely nothing wrong with it and 2014 obligations can easily be met by refiners via marketing of E15 and E85 as well as reserve RINs. The RFS has proven to lower our dependence on foreign oil, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and has created and supported over 300,000 jobs across this country. These demonstrable reasons are exactly why state chapters like South Dakota AAA stand by it and have rejected the oily political posturing of national AAA leadership. RFA has reached out to AAA to try and meet to review the facts, including the recently released NREL review of E15 studies that does not support AAA’s ‘automotive engineering experts’. However, AAA continues to reject offers. Why is AAA resistant to data that benefits a nation of drivers?”