What To do?

 To solve the problem of CO2 emissions we need to mandate that no new light duty vehicle can be sold in the U.S. beginning with model year 2028 that runs on gasoline (or diesel) as the primary fuel (define primary as anything greater than 2% by volume). Don't specify what takes gasoline's place. Eliminate all subsidies and tax credits (especially the regulatory tax credits that some car companies sell to other car companies). Car companies would then offer EVs, hydrogen, and ethanol powered vehicles on an equal basis. Some customers, especially fleet users, would choose electric or hydrogen power, but most consumers would choose ethanol engines due to their lower cost, the use of the current gasoline infrastructure, and ethanol's true carbon neutrality. Auto designers would have more design flexibility due to a smaller engine size.

There is precedent for such a dramatic change. We used to use lead as an octane enhancer for gasoline, but we got rid of it starting in the mid-1970's, not by banning leaded gasoline, but by banning new cars that burned leaded fuel. Existing vehicles were allowed to live out their lives on leaded gasoline.

Same strategy was followed with DDT. We didn't specify a replacement or tax DDT. We simply banned it after a certain date and farmers and manufacturers were free to replace it with whatever was best for them as long as it met certain guidelines.

If we did ban new  gasoline vehicle sales, we would in fifteen years have replaced 255 million light duty vehicles, practically the entire fleet (currently at 280 million) at basically no cost. This is a very good deal.

This mandate assures the absolute independence of the U.S. from the world crude oil price and a dramatic decrease in CO2 emissions. It also permits the continued research and sales of electric, hybrid, renewable natural gas or hydrogen and any other type of vehicle power as long as it is not a fossil fuel.

If, after reading the material on this website, you agree with us that E85 won't work and that carbon neutral optimized engines are the way to go, please write or contact your congressperson or senator and ask them to support bills with our proposed changes.

Here's a specific proposal for what’s needed in terms of legislation:

"It shall be illegal in the United States to sell a new light duty vehicle (EPA definition) that burns fossil gasoline or fossil diesel or any other fuel derived directly from crude oil or natural gas as the primary motor fuel beginning with model year 2028 or Jan. 1, 2028 whichever comes first. Primary means anything greater than 2% by volume for liquid fueled vehicles."

Additionally, write or call Michael Regan,  EPA Administrator, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20460, 202-564-4700 and/or  Sophie Shulman, NHTSA Deputy Administrator, 1200 New Jersey Ave, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20590, 888-327-4236.

The California Air Resources Board is also a good contact to write or call. They have the legal authority to regulate auto emissions in California independent of  the  Federal Government. Their website is www.arb.ca.gov.

The E100 Ethanol Group believes any Congressional bill should also include the following:

1. A provision that  any gasoline retailer can purchase E100 from any supplier,

2. A provision that any gasoline retailer can sell E100 under a branded canopy.

Links:  http://www.senate.gov/  http://www.house.gov/

If you are an engine designer and would like to help us or have a suggestion for us, our contact information is as follows:

                                 e-mail: donsiefkes@aol.com  

Debbie Baron -                           Don Siefkes -        

Board Member                           Executive Director

707-961-0717                                586-596-4765  

Dave Stoltz -                                 Jacob Zadorozny -          

Chief Technology Officer          Chief Engineer

530-906-4453                               248-837-9676