Outdoor Power Equipment Institute » epa ethanol

Four Things to Know About E15

Kristen — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 16:01:42 +0000

E15 fuel has been certified for sale in the United States and is slowly beginning to show up at filling stations. Here’s a quick rundown of what you need to know about this new fuel option.

What is E15 and why should I care?

E15 is shorthand for gasoline blended with 15 percent ethanol. The reason it’s a big deal is that ethanol is fairly corrosive to rubber and certain metals, so it can cause damage to vital components. Ethanol also attracts and bonds with water from the air, and that water can separate out inside the tank due to phase separation. If your vehicle sits for long periods between use, the moisture settles to the bottom of the tank and can potentially clog in-tank pumps and filters. Damage is also possible in fuel lines, injectors, seals, gaskets, and valve seats as well as carburetors on older engines.

Remind your customers to pay attention at the gas pump

Kristen — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 14:34:50 +0000

Leading engine manufacturers, including Kohler Engines, are warning users of all gasoline-powered lawn mowers and other outdoor power equipment to be vigilant when fueling their equipment. Gasoline blends containing more than 10-percent ethanol — such as E15 and E85 –should not be used. These blends, which are already available in several states, can cause permanent and irreversible damage that is not covered under warranty.

Situation overview:

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently gave approval for gas stations to start selling 15-percent ethanol-blended fuel (E15).
E15 gas is now legal for use in cars, pickups and SUVs manufactured since 2001.
However, E15 is not approved for off-road engines. This includes engines found in mowers, power washers, portable generators, leaf blowers and other commonly used outdoor power equipment.
Engine manufacturers and leading trade organizations are concerned that many consumers will utilize E15 in outdoor power equipment and other non-approved engines, causing permanent and irreversible damage.

Eye on Regulations

Kristen — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 14:34:46 +0000

Many in the small-business community fear that the next four years will usher in an onslaught of new regulations, several of which could have a negative impact on small businesses. Case in point: Small Businesses for Sensible Regulations, sponsored by the National Federation of Independent Businesses, predicts that some 4,128 new regulations are “in the pipeline” and could be enacted over the next four years.

These potential new regulations apply to a wide range of activities, many of which would either directly or indirectly affect the Green Industry. Examples include: Read more from the article here.

OPEI’s Kiser lauds Maine’s E15 bill

Kristen — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 15:37:40 +0000

I read with interest the story about Maine eyeing to ban fuel with more than 10 percent ethanol in the Jan. 11 article “Maine DEP working on plan to ban gas blends with more than 10 percent ethanol.”

Hats off to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and hopefully Maine lawmakers in their quest to ensure consumer safety. As the head of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, an organization that has been battling the introduction of higher ethanol blend fuels for several years, Maine’s effort to protect consumers from the risky and harmful effects of ethanol 15’s use should be lauded. Read more from the article here.

OPEI Responds to Latest E15 Ruling

Kristen — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 14:48:08 +0000

Responding to a federal appeals court decision on higher levels of ethanol fuel (E15), Kris Kiser, president and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) — an international trade association representing more than 84 small-engine, utility vehicle and OPE manufacturers and suppliers worldwide — issued the following statement on Jan. 16: Read more from this article here.

Ethanol 15 Statement from the President and CEO of OPEI, responding to a federal appeals court decision on higher levels of ethanol fuel.

Kristen — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 20:32:29 +0000

We just received word that the federal appeals court refused to reconsider a decision to throw out a lawsuit challenging an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that allows higher concentrations of corn-based ethanol in gasoline. The reasoning is that we didn’t have ‘standing’ because we couldn’t show specific harm as a result of the EPA’s decision. It is regrettable that the court is insisting to see personal or economic injury before they can take action. Our interest is to protect the consumer; we’re trying to prevent the harm from happening in the first place,” says Kris Kiser, President and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, an international trade association representing more than 84 small engine, utility vehicle and outdoor power equipment manufacturers and suppliers worldwide.

“EPA has acknowledged there will be mis-fueling with E15; there will be engine and product failure. This is the reason the outdoor power equipment, boating, UTV, snowmobile, auto, and motorcycle industries, as well as the American Automobile Association (AAA) and the Coast Guard, oppose this higher ethanol fuel. Our interest is in protecting our customers.”

“Now, we will reconsider moving forward on a mis-fueling rule challenge concerning EPA’s wholly inadequate solution to avoid mis-fueling, which consists of a small 3×3 gas pump label. EPA denied our petition to have an E10 legacy fuel for the marketplace; we remain adamant that an E10 fuel stay in the marketplace for all products not approved for E15 use.”

One source for background: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-15/epa-ethanol-rule-challenge-won-t-be-reconsidered-judges-say-1-.html

For questions or interviews,

Caroline March-Long

434-295-5938

caroline@fourleafpr.com

Consumer Reports: E15 Gasoline is Chief Worry at Outdoor-Equipment Show

Kristen — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 18:47:05 +0000

A slow rumble across the convention-hall floor during this week’s annual Green Industry and Equipment Expo (GIE+EXPO) wasn’t coming from the outdoor gear being demonstrated behind the Kentucky Expo Center, at the show’s 19-acre outdoor area. Rather, it was from news that some gas stations in Iowa, Kansas and Wisconsin had begun selling gasoline with 15 percent ethanol, or E15. We talked to Kris Kiser, President and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, but the subject came up in conversations with every manufacturer we met. Read more from this article here.

OPEI’s Kris Kiser Talks Equipment

Kristen — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 14:38:25 +0000

Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) President Kris Kiser talks about the business of equipment and how government regulations may affect their future.

OPEI is an international trade association representing 84 manufacturers and their suppliers of consumer and commercial outdoor power equipment, such as lawnmowers, utility vehicles, trimmers, chainsaws, snow throwers, and other related products.

The institute was founded in 1952, and is dedicated to promoting the outdoor power equipment industry by undertaking activities that can be pursued more effectively by an association than by individual companies. OPEI is also a managing partner of GIE+EXPO, the industry’s annual international trade show and exposition for equipment.

Kris Kiser, President and CEO of the OPEI and the OPEI Education and Research Foundation, is also an attorney and joined the institute four years ago. Prior to joining OPEI, Mr. Kiser served for 14 years in senior management at two major Washington, D.C. trade associations. He was Vice President of State and International Affairs for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, and Vice President of Governmental Affairs for the American Forest & Paper Association.

Mr. Kiser also worked nine years for noted international affairs expert and former Congressman Lee H. Hamilton. He was Special Assistant in the Congressman’s personal office and spent two years as the chief administrative staffer (AA) with the Joint Economic Committee during Hamilton’s Chairmanship of the Committee.

Q: What trends do you see in the landscape equipment industry? Read more from the article here.

Outdoor Power Equipment Institute Announces Featured GIE+EXPO Speakers from EPA and CPSC

Kristen — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 15:33:45 +0000

The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) announced featured speakers from the EPA and CPSC who will be speaking on Friday, Oct. 26, 2012, at the upcoming 2012 GIE+EXPO held at the Kentucky Exposition Center.

Glenn Passavant and Philip Carlson from the EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality will be featured speakers at a 10 a.m. Workshop, to be held in Room C-202. They will be speaking on topics of immediate interest and importance to the OPE industry. There will be time allowed for an open Q&A at the end of the presentation. Read more from this article here.

OPEI announces EPA, CPSC speakers for GIE+EXPO

Kristen — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 13:06:56 +0000

The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) announced Oct. 9 the featured speakers for presentations by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) at the Green Industry & Equipment Expo (GIE+EXPO), which is set to take place Wednesday, Oct. 24, through Friday, Oct. 26, at Louisville’s Kentucky Exposition Center. Both presentations will be free for GIE+EXPO attendees (with no registration required), and both will be held Friday.

Glenn Passavant and Philip Carlson from the EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality will be the featured speakers at a 10 a.m. workshop to be held in Room C-202. They will address topics of immediate interest and importance to the OPE industry. There will be time allowed for an open Q&A at the end of the presentation. Read more from the article here.