Last week's battle in a House committee over fuel economy increases included an undercard bout between the ethanol and convenience store industries — and the ethanol backers came prepared.
The proposal would require more ethanol production and more ethanol-capable vehicles and force some filling stations to install pumps for dispensing E85, the blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline.
Sonja Hubbard, chief executive of E-Z Mart Stores of Texarkana, Texas, said consumers weren't demanding enough E85 to require more pumps or cover the cost of adding one, which she estimated at $11,000 to $200,000.
But the National Vehicle Ethanol Coalition produced customized maps for each member of the committee, showing how many E85 capable vehicles were registered in their district and how many E85 pumps were available. Many members expressed shock; Democratic Rep. Rick Boucher said he had 10,583 flex-fuel vehicles in his Virginia district, and no E85 pumps.
Rep. Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., noted that outside a highway on the edge of his district, there were seven E85 pumps to serve 24,000 E85-capable vehicles.
