API poll: High ethanol mandates worry US voters

About 77% percent of registered US voters are concerned that breaching the ethanol blend wall could drive up the cost of gasoline for consumers and reduce the nation’s fuel supply (85% of Republicans, 75% of Democrats and 71% of independents), according to a new poll conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of the American Petroleum Institute (API) trade group.

“Across the political spectrum, voters are concerned about the significant damage the RFS mandate and higher ethanol blends could cause to automobiles, motorcycles and almost every type of gasoline powered engine,” API's downstream group director Frank Macchiarola told reporters on a conference call to release the poll.

“Regardless of their party affiliation, voters are concerned with mandates that try to force too much ethanol into our fuel supply," he added. "“Our new energy realities have made the RFS obsolete. Americans are not consuming as much gasoline as Congress assumed when they wrote the legislation in 2007. That means current ethanol mandates push more ethanol -- far too quickly -- into gasoline than today’s vehicles can safely accommodate.”

More results from the poll:

Overall, 77% of voters are concerned that auto manufacturers have said that they may not provide warranty coverage for an owner's misfueling with an ethanol blend that is over 10% in a vehicle not specifically designed for it. (84% of Republicans, 75 % of Democrats and 68 percent of independents).

Additionally, 76% said they are concerned that diverting more corn to energy production rather than to food could result in higher food costs and contribute to world hunger. (81% of Republicans, 76% of Democrats and 74% of independents).

“We’ll use this poll to remind candidates, members of Congress and the administration that American voters are very concerned about the costs and consequences of this unworkable and unnecessary mandate,” Macchiarola said. “It’s past time for Congress to repeal or significantly reform this program.”

The telephone study was conducted with 1,013 registered voters across the US, with a sampling error of +/- 3%.