Bill targets problems with ethanol

    AUGUSTA – State Rep. Bernard Ayotte (R-Caswell) would like to remind snowmobilers to drain ethanol-blended fuel from their machines’ gas tanks before stowing them for the summer.
    Ethanol is now in virtually all gasoline sold in Maine, he said, which means residents must take more precautions with snowmobiles, ATVs, lawnmowers, outboard engines and other small engines that run on gas. When ethanol sits for a period of time in a small engine, it can disintegrate rubber gaskets and speed up rusting. Numerous snowmobiles were damaged by ethanol this year. When owners shut down their snow machine for the season, he said, they should make sure the tank is empty or put in an additive.
    Legislation has been introduced in this session that would require any retail gasoline dealer to offer ethanol-free premium-grade gasoline. The bill, LD 1320, has widespread bipartisan support. Rep. Ayotte is one of 58 cosponsors. If the bill is passed and signed into law, every gas station in Maine would be required to have at least one pump with ethanol-free gasoline.
    Rep. Ayotte added that the entire ethanol mandate should be reexamined in view of the extensive damage and disruption ethanol has caused around the state and nation. Ethanol has been forced on the country by the federal government, which evidently never considered the negative consequences. Engine damage is just one problem. Federal mandates for ethanol have driven up our food prices dramatically because so much of our corn crop now goes to make fuel.
    Based on a number of studies, he said, it takes more energy to produce a gallon of ethanol than you get out of that gallon. In other words, it’s a net energy loser and a net positive polluter. To make the situation even worse, motorists get much lower mileage from ethanol versus gasoline, requiring the purchase of more fuel.
    According to Rep. Ayotte, there is a growing consensus that this is one of the worst ideas to come out of Washington in recent memory.