Hawaii Bill to Eliminate Ethanol Requirement in Gasoline Amended and Approved by Senate; Moves to House

Legislation (S.B. 717) to remove the requirement that gasoline offered for sale in the state contain a percentage of ethanol was approved by the Hawaii Senate and sent to the House with a significant amendment.  Under the amended bill, the effective date of the repeal would be July 1, 2050.  The original date for the repeal was July 1, 2015. This amendment renders the bill almost useless to the thousands of older cars that are currently most negatively affected by ethanol blends.  The bill will now be considered by two additional House committees.

We Urge You to Contact Members of the House Consumer Protection & Commerce Committee and House Transportation Committee (Lists Below) Immediately to Urge a July 1, 2015 Effective Date for S.B. 717

• With an effective date of July 1, 2050, S.B. 717 no longer protects the thousands of older cars that are currently feeling the effects of ethanol-blended gasoline.  The July 1, 2015 effective date protects today’s cars now.
   
• The requirement of blending ethanol into Hawaii’s gasoline does not produce any economic benefit for the state and the import of ethanol creates an economic burden for state residents.
   
• Ethanol increases water formation which can then create formic acid and corrode metals, plastics and rubber, especially over a period of time when the vehicle is not used.  Current high performance specialty parts along with pre-model year 2001 cars and parts may be most susceptible to corrosion.
   
• The life span of vehicles and equipment can be dramatically reduced with the wrong fuel and that owners could be confronted with break downs. Anti-corrosion additives are available for each purchase of gasoline but can become expensive, burdensome and require consumer education.

DON’T DELAY!  Please contact Hawaii House Consumer Protection & Commerce Committee members and Transportation Committee members to request a July 1, 2015 effective date for S.B. 717.  

Please e-mail a copy of your letter to Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.  Also, please forward this Alert to your fellow car enthusiasts.  Urge them to join the SAN and help defend the hobby! Thank you for your assistance. 

Hawaii House Consumer Protection & Commerce Committee