Childress: E15 ethanol is a viable alternative to regular gas

Richard Childress

"Today’s ethanol industry probably doesn’t look anything like most people imagine," Richard Childress, president and chief executive officer of Richard Childress Racing, wrote in the Kansas City Star.

In the piece, Childress explains that today’s ethanol producers are able to reduce emissions compared to gasoline by nearly 60 percent – and that producing ethanol adds jobs here in the United States.

"In NASCAR, we are using Sunoco Green E15, a blend of 15 percent ethanol and 85 percent gasoline," he said. "Last year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved E15 for all vehicles built in the last decade, which is more than 80 percent of the cars and trucks on the roads today. I like to think that if E15 is good enough for my racing team, it’s certainly good enough for everyday street cars."

He noted that NASCAR has surpassed 2 million miles of driving on E15 "without a hitch in what can only be described as a seamless transition. Plus, we’ve also seen enhanced performance. In fact, many of the teams have reported an increase in horsepower. In my mind, this proves that E15 is a viable alternative to regular gasoline."

For the full piece, click here.