Across this great nation, African-American families are struggling to do more with less. They must find ways to keep food on the table at a time when costs are skyrocketing and they are trying to rebuild savings by stringing together part-time jobs. The Pew Research Center recently reported an alarming statistic: “the median wealth of non-Hispanic black households fell 33.7%, from $16,600 in 2010 to $11,000 in 2013”. [or “The wealth of white households was 13 times the median wealth of black households in 2013”][i]
Given the harsh economic reality of many African-American families, I was therefore disappointed when I heard that the Chicago City Council recently voted in favor of an ordinance which would bring them even further harm. The Chicago Clean Air Ordinance, if the Mayor approves it, would require E15 (15 percent corn ethanol, 85% gasoline) to be sold in Chicago gas stations, adversely affecting many of the city’s most vulnerable citizens.
Currently 10 percent (E10) is the highest corn ethanol content sold. Supporters said that E15 will improve the environment and lower prices, however, many experts have countered those claims, including scientists, economists, owners of gas stations, restaurant owners, car manufacturers, AAA and even bakers, food pantries and the environmental community.
How could “five percent more” corn ethanol possibly hurt? Here are some surprising facts.
Corn is used not only in fuel, it is also used for almost every type of food that we consume such as cereal, bread, gravy, (corn syrup, corn starch), fried foods (corn oil), and chicken, beef, pork (corn-feed). The more corn grown for fuel, the less land for corn for food and feed, driving up costs. According to FarmEcon, ethanol mandates could result in a family of four paying more than $2,000 per year in extra food costs[ii] For African American families who are already struggling to make ends meet, added food costs would undoubtedly hurt.
E15 could also damage car engines as well as lawnmowers, snowblowers, motorcycles and other small engines. When you’re out several thousand dollars because your car or tools got ruined by this slightly higher ethanol blend, or because you accidentally filled up on E15, you’ll understand why the move to E15 is being opposed by a diverse set of groups. This list includes the National Council of Chain Restaurants, the Chicago Automobile Trade Association, the National Turkey Federation, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, the Illinois Automobile Dealers Association, the Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association, the American Motorcyclist Association, the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, the American Bakers Association – even the Sierra Club has voiced concerns about higher corn ethanol levels.[iii],[iv],[v]
Then there is the local service station owner who has to pay upwards of $125,000 to install the equipment that will dispense E15. The City Council said that there will be funds to help defray some of the costs, but, if you read the fine print, the money is not guaranteed to station owners – they still have to go through an approval process; and how far will this money go? Those stations provide jobs, food and staples for families in the community. What happens to those jobs and retail options for those small owners who won’t be able to afford to install expensive equipment? They will be gone. And for larger station owners who can and will have to spend a small fortune to stay in business, who do you think they’re going to pass the costs on to? Their customers, of course. Proponents of E-15 tell us that ethanol blends are less expensive than unadulterated gasoline, but this isn’t true. Because ethanol burns faster than gasoline, so drivers using it run out of fuel faster and have to fill up more often. Where is the savings?
And E15’s environmental benefits are not what they are purported to be. Studies and reports have concluded that corn ethanol could actually contribute to higher greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). So much for improving air quality. Also, increased demand for corn for fuel has led to billions of pounds of fertilizer in rivers, lakes and groundwater. How environmentally friendly is that? [vi]
We need to let Mayor Rahm Emanuel hear the truth over the whispers of the special interests backing this self-serving mandate to put “five percent more” corn ethanol in our cars. Please do not approve an ordinance which would economically hurt Chicago’s African-American families.
[i] Pew Research Center. http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/12/12/racial-wealth-gaps-great-recession/
[ii] E15 Truth Sheet
[iii] https://content.sierraclub.org/grassrootsnetwork/team-news/2013/10/risks-e15-gasoline-continue
[iv] http://energytomorrow.org/blog/2014/july/july-24-the-facts-on-e15-chicago-edition
[v] http://energytomorrow.org/blog/2013/october/rfs-rising-costs-for-bakers
[vi] http://energytomorrow.org/blog/2014/july/july-24-the-facts-on-e15-chicago-edition
