NOTO Increasingly Concerned About the Rapid Change to Ethanol Content in Marine and Other Gasoline-based Fuels
In December, NOTO was made aware of an message that was circulated by Imperial Oil to fuel suppliers that indicated ethanol content in gasoline is soon to be mandated to exceed 10 percent of fuel volume and may reach upward of 15 to 20 percent as early as April of 2022.
This can cause serious problems with recreational vehicles, boat motors and fuel dispensing equipment.
We have partnered with the National Marine Manufacturers Association to bring forward the following concerns in hopes that we can prevent more challenges for our industry for the next several years.
- Fuel with a percentage of ethanol above 10 percent in boat engines is harmful to the engines. There are serious and well-documented human safety, environmental, and technology concerns associated with ethanol blends over 10 percent in recreational boat fuel tanks and engines. NMMA has conducted a number of tests which have shown the destruction of the tank and engine.
- Tourism, particularly in Northern Ontario is based on water related activities such as pleasure boating, fishing, access to remote recreation amenities, and much, much more. Damage to tourism has been unprecedented over the past two years of the pandemic and the sector just simply cannot withstand the cost of replacing damaged or destroyed boating and/or fuel dispensing equipment that is often a mainstay of their businesses.
- Boating and tourism aside, Ontario is already seeing the effects of global supply chain disruptions in the automotive sector. The resultant product shortages and skyrocketing costs would only be exacerbated by the untimely market disruption that will occur if ethanol levels are further increased without allowing automotive, boating and tourism sectors to adjust.
There is currently an exemption in place for Northern Ontario that requires fuel suppliers to provide access to lower ethanol blends of fuel but that is set to expire in April 2022. We are making every effort to get that exemption extended or to find another solution with Government.
We will keep you posted on our progress.
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