By U.S. Sen. Olympia J. Snowe
(R-Maine)
Maine’s rural economy literally runs on gasoline given the number of snowmobiles, ATVs, chainsaws, lawnmowers, and boats in our great state, which are critical for everyday life in Maine’s working communities. With gasoline costs increasing as a result of instability in the Middle East, rural Maine is disproportionately affected by prices as high as $3.54 per gallon, so we must develop American resources and invest in energy efficiency. Mainers spend on average $1,667 per year on gasoline, the tenth highest in the country, and rising gas prices seriously threaten economic recovery.
I authored legislation in 2007 increasing fuel economy standards that is predicted to save 1.8 billion barrels of oil. Indeed, this legislation will save money at the pump for millions of Americans and will reduce our dependency on foreign oil. Frankly, we must do more, and that includes providing tax credits for Mainers to purchase energy efficient trucks and cars – as well as passing legislation that reinstates tax credits for Mainers to purchase insulation, windows, and boilers so we can continue to reduce energy demand.
At the same time, one deeply concerning development for Maine’s rural economy has been our supply of pure gasoline, which has nearly become completely blended with ethanol produced in the Midwest. Beyond the fact that ethanol only contains about 68 percent of the energy as pure gasoline, ethanol-blended gasoline simply does not work for Maine’s off-road engines. I was alerted to this development by the operators of the Central Maine Regional Airport in Norridgewock, who serve as the region’s major supplier to snowmobilers, ATV riders, and other Mainers who rely on this vital resource.
Equally disturbing is the decision by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to allow the blend of ethanol to increase from 10 percent (E10) to 15 percent (E15), even though the Agency has indicated that this fuel cannot be safely used in vehicles older than 10 years – let alone snowmobiles, ATVs, or chainsaws. What happens to our rural economy if we quite simply can’t fill up our tanks with gas? That is precisely the question I asked the EPA Administrator, who does not appear to recognize the importance of pure gasoline to a rural economy. Think of the millions of dollars that would be spent on repairing broken engines that will be filled up with E15 because government fiat declares there is no other option.
The EPA’s decision will lead to less fuel efficiency, increased food prices, and more broken engines which certainly does not make sense for Maine. As a result, I am working with my Senate Republican colleague, Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, to change the law to allow states to opt out of the federal renewable fuel standard, which will help maintain access to affordable pure gasoline that is absolutely critical to keeping Maine’s rural economy running.
