Reformulated Gas (RFG)

Councilman Doug Hawkins has been pushing for citizens to get involved in asking Governor Steve Beshear to absolve Louisville from having to use Reformulated Gas (RFG). He has even circulated a petition for our signatures and has taken some heat for his stance. I signed it happily.

There have been many stories lately some asking the critical question:

"Is RFG necessary?"

I am with Hawkins on this issue. I believe it is not necessary.

There have been some fear mongers who say that if we discontinue RFG we will get the VET back.

That is false. There have been major strides in recent years such as the reduction in sulfur content in all gas in 2004. This virtually eliminated the difference in nitrogen oxide emissions in reformulated and conventional gas.

Conventional gas is cleaner today then it was a few years ago. Even the auto manufacturers since the 2004 regulations were required to begin selling vehicles with better pollution-fighting technology. Vehicles meeting these standards are 77% to 95% cleaner, depending on the size of the vehicle, compared with 2003 models, according to the EPA.

A good source of information and questions comes from here:

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=767584

It outlines some specific problems in Milwaukee Wisconsin (who was mandated by the EPA to use RFG not volunteered like we are).

It explains some studies and why they are not accurate and even states that with all the changes, the EPA can't say exactly how beneficial reformulated gas is anymore.

It also goes on to lay a good portion of the pollution problems on outside forces they cannot control. Such as pollution floating in from Indiana and Chicago.

This is one area that I have challenged publicly in many regards. With Louisville being in the Ohio Valley we essentially are a dumping ground for air borne pollutants from Indiana and just about anywhere else that a nice breeze decides to blow into here.

So is there any benefit to RFG? Not if you cannot control the pollutants it is a band aid on a mortal wound. It just does not stick.

If there is no benefit there can be no justified costs or reason to voluntarily continue with this program.

Like him or not Doug Hawkins has this one right.