Circuit Judge David Sentelle dismissed on Friday a suit filed by grocery, auto and petroleum industry associations seeking to block the EPA's approval of a new type of gasoline consisting of a 15 percent blend of corn-based ethanol. Sentelle ruled that the groups didn't provide enough evidence to show how the EPA's approval of E15 would cause harm to them.
The groups argue that the move from E10 to E15 will raise food prices and may cause engine damage.
"Today's court decision is a big loss for consumers, for safety and for our environment," Bob Greco, a director of the American Petroleum Institute, which represents more than 500 oil and natural gas companies, told Bloomberg. "EPA approved E15 before vehicle testing was complete, and we now know that the fuel may cause significant mechanical problems in millions of cars on the road today."
The EPA has approved E15 for vehicles made after 2001, but automakers maintain any damages caused by the fuel will not be covered by factory warrantie.
Per a 2007 law, the United States must use 13.2 billion gallons of biofuels this year, with that figure set to increase to 13.6 billion gallons by 2013.
