Just waiting for Gov. to sign the bill.....

Sun Sentinel Editorial Board
May 13, 2013
Florida lawmakers this year voted to repeal a five-year-old law that forces consumers to buy ethanol-blended fuel at most gas stations across the state. Gov. Rick Scott need only add his signature to set things right.
Encouraging the use of corn-based fuel seemed like a good idea years ago, but the policy has instead created an oppressive mandate amid widespread reports about ethanol causing damage to boat motors and car engines. A legal reversal would be a win for a free-market economy, though a blow to big agribusiness.
Both the Florida House and Senate voted to repeal the Florida Renewable Fuel Standards Act by wide margins; 77-39 and 33-1, respectively. The bill would end the requirement that gasoline contain up to 10 percent ethanol or another alternative fuel. Exceptions were carved out for fuel sold for boats, small motors and collector vehicles. Nonetheless, the law left a majority of motorists with little choice at the pump.
How little?
While the law technically allows you to purchase ethanol-free gas, good luck finding it. Only 385 stations in Florida sell it, according to Pure-Gas.Org, including nine in Palm Beach and 20 in Broward counties.
Plenty of other problems are linked to ethanol-laced fuel, as well.
It contains two-thirds the energy content of ethanol-free gas, which means fuel efficiency drops by up to 10 percent, requiring consumers to buy more. And on average, corn-ethanol production creates 36 percent more greenhouse-gas emissions than oil-based gas, according to a study by the nonprofit Friends of the Earth.
The ill effects spread beyond motorists. The mandate has created higher demand and prices for livestock corn feed, and led to higher corn prices at the grocery store.
And while opponents of the repeal cast doubts on the harm caused by ethanol, there is evidence to the contrary.
"I'll fix a lawn mower and it will be working perfectly, then three months later it's back here," Johnny Gavino, owner of McGee Lawn Mower Service recently told the Palm Beach Post. "The ethanol deteriorates the fuel line and the primer, and it's bad for the carburetor."
Andrew Sarantidis at New Age Automotive in West Palm Beach said, "My experience is that it prematurely wears out the fuel injectors and the seals. It's alcohol. The engines are designed for petroleum products, not alcohol."
The best argument against repeal is that it could hurt our budding biofuels industry. "It does nothing except hurt the businesses that are here in the state and it hurts an industry that we are wanting to move to Florida," argued Rep. Debbie Mayfield, R-Vero Beach.
Mayfield did not mention that corn is expensive to grow in Florida, compared to other crops with energy possibilities, including algae. Indeed, the University of Florida has become a biomass leader by focusing on creating clean fuels from sugarcane, the state's third largest crop economically, and sorghum.
The ethanol mandate is a bust and should no longer be shoved down the throats of consumers. Last year this editorial board sided with Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, who argued a repeal would be akin to Florida turning its back on companies that have invested in developing ethanol.
But a lot has happened since then. At the urging of bill sponsor Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Walton Beach, Putnam agreed to withhold the strong opposition he voiced in 2012, allowing this year's repeal to burn through both chambers.
As Gaetz says, "Any business model that is contingent upon the government forcing people to buy their product is a flawed business model."
The rub against the Florida repeal is that a similar federal ethanol mandate remains. But by signing the repeal, Scott best serves his constituents and sends a message to Washington that corny mandates to prop up big business hurt us all.

That would be nice no more ETH in the gas

Those of us in Florida need to call and write the offices of our representatives and push this.

This ethanol business is the worst deal that Americans have ever been suckered into. When this gets to Washington watch the Corn Lobbies that are getting price supports for farmers in their states push back.

I have had carburetors on lawn mowers and my boat go to hell in a matter of months because of this garbage.

Thanks for sharing.

Plus it's more expensive, it was always a bunch of bullcrap, let's hope it goes through.

if this passes I get more than 6 months out of a fuel pump!!!

I already use non etho in boat but would be nice for truck due to effeciency.

Maybe it's a good idea to copy all of our reps in our respective states and show them what Florida is trying to do, we would also like ethanol free gas up here in tropical Cleveland.

Well the EPA mandates some ethanol in our gas as does the Dept. of Energy because its "renewable".

Our farmers love it because it propped up the price of corn.

I don't like it, just everyone needs to know whats all involved and who is going to fight this recent proposed change.

Wannabe

I hate the crap too and try to avoid it -but the statement that "ethanol laced fuel contains 2/3's as much energy" is NOT factual what so ever, PURE ethanol is good for about 75.5k btu per gal, typical gas is good for about 115K per gallon so when mixed at 10% (e-10) the 10% ethanol is lowering the TOTAL btu value of the gas/ethanol mix by about 3.5% (loss of 3450 btus at 10% from fuel that is normally 115000 btus) 1/3 would be 10 times that-ie 33 percent. Further more, if the ethanol laced mix contained 2/3's as uch energy,the mileage would drop by 33%, not 10% so I don't know who dreamed up the facts used for this, Smitty

in a recent report they interviewed heads of the major auto builder and top enginers at those companies all of which stated that ethanol was the worst thing you could ever put in the cars and that the destructive properties have cost the companies millions in warrenty repairs and material costs to make the cars as ethanol proof as they could.