Clean Gas Waivers

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4647264/

U.S. mulling some clean-gasoline waivers
EPA considers three states' requests over additives


Updated: 3:34 p.m. ET April 01, 2004WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is "seriously considering" requests by three states for temporary exemptions to cleaner-burning gasoline requirements that have likely contributed to higher gasoline prices, Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham said Thursday.

The EPA requires the three states to sell gasoline that is blended with ethanol or another substance that raises its oxygen content, making it burn cleaner and release fewer exhaust fumes into the air.

However, the so-called "boutique fuels" are more expensive than conventional gasoline because fewer refiners produce them, contributing to their scarcity.

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OK, now, maybe I'm not thinking this through, but if the cost issue is one of scarcity, wouldn't it make more sense to extend these regulations to every state, which would lead to more refiners producing these fuels, leading to lower costs?

Here in WI, we have summer price spikes because our RFG blend is only used in five counties here and a few more in IL. There are dozens of RFG blends around the country -- some due to different pollution levels/causes, and others due to parochialism (we use ethanol here, and we're a big corn state).

It would make more sense to have fewer regional blends, for the reasons you mention.

I live in Stevens Point

AKA Republican Hell.

We got a whole lotta catholics here, but it's a college town, so there's a fair amount of the good kind of freaks too :)

And more consistent regulation on a national level.