Ethanol Industry Slams California Decision to ban Combustion Engine in 2035

The ethanol industry is slamming California’s decision to ban the internal combustion engine in 2035.

“Disappointed and mystified” is the way the Renewable Fuels Association describes its reaction to California’s announced 2035 ban on the internal combustion engine.

“If that is, in fact, what happens, yeah, it’s going to have some far reaching impacts on the fuel market, and, by extension, it’s going to have an impact on the corn market," said Geoff Cooper with the Renewable Fuels Association. "California is the single-largest consumer of gasoline, when you look at all 50-states, and the single-largest consumer of ethanol.”

Where fossil fuels are generating more of the power. Cooper feels California regulators made a mistake assuming the state’s motorists will willingly agree to buy EVs.

“We all know that electric vehicles are the most expensive vehicles available today, and so, this mandate to require California drivers to purchase electric vehicles, could have some significant implications on vehicle pricing, and just the availability of vehicles that consumers want," said Cooper.

Cooper argues the quickest and lowest cost way to reduce gasoline emissions is to move immediately to 15-percent ethanol blends nationwide, and then to higher blends like E25, E30 and E85.