The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday that it would temporarily allow widespread sales of a higher ethanol gas blend in a move that they hope will tamp down consumer prices that have soared since the Iran war began.

The sale of E15 is typically discontinued in the summer because it can contribute to harmful air pollution.

Not all are convinced the move will substantially lower gas prices. E15 isn’t available in all states and some places don’t have the necessary infrastructure or enough of a supply of ethanol to ramp up use, said Kenneth Gillingham, a professor at the Yale School of the Environment who studies the impacts of transportation regulations on prices, emissions and consumer welfare.

  • lobo@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    Yeah, after all gas needs to be extracted distilled and shipped around the globe every time you fill up. Only to be burned at 20-30% efficency.

    • a_non_monotonic_function@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      That isn’t the same. I didn’t ask about electricity (that would fuel the vehicle). I was pointing out that, among other things, batteries require mining in very specific locations, shipping raw components to where batteries will be built, building them, and shipping them to their destination.

      Apples to apples (insofar that it is possible), my dude.