The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released its proposed rule that lifts the summertime ban on higher-ethanol blends of gasoline, particularly E15, which contains 50 percent more ethanol than the more common E10.

A ban on E15 has been in place during warmer months across most of the country because the EPA determined it contributes to smog in hot weather.

The AMA opposes the increased availability of E15 because use of the fuel is illegal in motorcycles and ATVs, none of which are certified by the EPA to operate on fuel blends containing more than 10 percent ethanol.

Studies show that consumers shop for fuel by price, indicating many motorcyclists will inadvertently pump cheaper E15 blends into their bikes. Higher ethanol blends can cause damage to engines, fuel systems and exhaust components in vehicles not designed for those blends.

Concurrent with lifting the summer ban on E15 sales, the ethanol industry launched an E15 marketing campaign that adds confusion to the issue.

Growth Energy, an ethanol marketing organization, began promoting E15 as “Unleaded 88” in an effort to help retailers sell more of the fuel blend. So far, Sheetz, Kwik Trip, Protec Fuels, Kum & Go, Minnoco, and Family Express have signed on for the promotion.

In a press release about the campaign, Growth Energy stated, “Unleaded 88 communicates the octane of the fuel in the way consumers are used to seeing it.”

But by emphasizing octane rating over ethanol content, this campaign will mislead consumers into filling up with higher-ethanol fuel that is harmful to their vehicles.