US gasoline is being diluted again. Over objections from the US food and livestock industries, EPA approved E15, which increases by an additional 50 percent the amount of extra ethanol at the pump to a blend of 85% gasoline and 15% corn ethanol, to be sold for cars from model year 2001 and newer. Oil, automobile and US food trade groups have challenged EPA's approval of E15 in federal court, and in an April 23 hearing, judges signaled they agreed with the challengers but questioned whether they had standing to bring the case to court. Meanwhile, Toyota, Lexus and Ford have issued strong warnings against putting E15 into their brand-new vehicles. - Millet (244 BO-)
