The pro-ethanol trade group Growth Energy and 54 ethanol manufacturers petitioned the EPA last March to allow gasoline rated as standard transportation fuel to contain up to 15% ethanol by volume, known as E15. U.S. gasoline is now approved to contain up to 10% ethanol. The group filed the request as an emergency waiver appeal to forego the usual multi-year data gathering and research process associated with such fuel changes. According to agency rules, the appeal required a yea or nay response within six months, but agency officials now say that time frame won’t likely be met.

The head of the EPA said the agency may have to work past the December 1 deadline because it is still reviewing test results on how the higher blend rate would affect engines “across the board,” including cars, trucks, snow mobiles, motor boats and lawnmowers. Pro-ethanol interests have promoted the results of a federal study prepared by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) for the U.S. Dept. of Energy in fall 2008 that looked at the effect of blends as high as E15 and E20 and found relatively few problems in newer autos. Small engine and automotive groups say the study, which was more observational in nature and lacked scientific controls, is inconclusive at best, leaves many questions unanswered and is primarily an indicator that much more research on higher ethanol blends in small engines is required.

The ANSI standard development process requires involvement from a variety of interests. Participants involved in the process, from the U.S. and Canada, include the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and other government representatives, industry, consumers and other interested parties.  Through the ANSI process, managed by ROHVA, those participants will reach consensus on an appropriate ANSI standard for ROV equipment, configuration and performance requirements.

The proposed standard will address design, configuration and performance aspects of ROVs, including requirements for accelerator, clutch and gearshift controls; engine and fuel cutoff devices; lighting; tires; service and parking brake/parking mechanism performance; lateral and pitch stability; occupant handholds and roll-over protective structure; occupant-restraints; and requirements for safety labels and owners’ manuals.

The balloting of the first draft of this proposed ANS was completed July 27. Comments were received as part of the balloting process and were reviewed and responded to by letter. All accepted comments have been included in the current proposed standard dated Oct. 12.

The proposed standard is open for public review and comment by directly and materially affected persons. The public comment period closes Dec. 7.

Gene Lupton, owner of Gene’s Lawnmower Service Center in Lowland, NC, made his third visit to GIE+EXPO and greatly enjoyed “riding everything” in the outdoor demo area. Inside, at the all-new Service Center Pavilion at the show, Lupton said, “I just stood there and watched a guy from Stihl for 30-45 minutes tearing down a carburetor—and I learned a lot.”

Joe Thomas, owner of Thomas Outdoor Power Repair in Indianapolis, Ind., does mostly service work, but also sells some RedMax units. The biggest issues he’s seen recently are mostly related to bad or stale ethanol-blended fuel. He added that he had a great time at GIE+EXPO 2009.

Husqvarna won in both the Handheld and Wheeled categories with its new 576XP AutoTune Chain Saw and PZ Mower Series, respectively. ARI won the Business Services category with its new Footsteps dealership sales lead management software. Tec-Mate’s OptiMate Pro-S Battery Charger won the Attachments/Accessories category, and Alum-Line’s rugged new Extreme Pro-Hauler truck body won the Power Sports/Recreation category.

“The purpose of the Dealers Choice Awards is to provide dealers with the opportunity to vote for those products and services that can add significant value to their businesses.  We want to reward the companies that listen to dealers’ needs and develop the products and services that specifically meet those needs, helping to make dealerships in the Outdoor Power Industry stronger and more profitable.  We are happy to recognize this year’s winners,” said Dan Shell, managing editor of Power Equipment Trade magazine.

Now in their fourth year, the Power Equipment Trade GIE+EXPO Dealers Choice Awards give lawn and garden dealers an opportunity to highlight new product innovations and quality by voting on top products on display at GIE+EXPO, the lawn and garden industry’s largest North American trade show.

The 2009 awards featured more than 60 product nominations, narrowed down to 22 finalists in the five categories. Thanks to this year’s new on-line voting feature, lawn and garden dealers began voting on October 1 for their favorite products, continuing through the second day of GIE+EXPO in Louisville, Ky., where dealers voted at the Power Equipment Trade booth. More than 300 dealers participated in the voting this year.

Steve got his start in the power equipment industry in the late 1950s with Homelite’s Minnesota branch and quickly rose to become an extremely successful sales representative. He eventually left Homelite to join his brother Dave, shortly after Tilton Equipment was formed in 1969.

Steve was admired for his extraordinary work ethic, which included long hours and seven-day weeks. His tireless dedication and innovative thinking were fundamental to Tilton Equipment’s growth and lasting success. His unique personality and sharp wit made an impact and a lasting impression on virtually everyone who met him.

“Arctic Cat and GE Capital share a commitment to meet the financial needs of our ATV and snowmobile dealers,” said Christopher Twomey, Arctic Cat’s chairman and CEO, in a press release. “We are excited and pleased with our new partnership and expect it to continue to provide innovative financing programs and superior service.”

The Business Growth Awards will be presented by Cascade Capital Corp., an economic development finance company that provides SBA 504 funding throughout Ohio, and sponsored by Smart Business magazine. The awards honor businesses located in Summit, Medina, Portage, Wayne, Ashland and Holmes counties that have increased sales over the previous five years. (2004-2008)

Cascade Capital recognized all Growth Award honorees October 8, 2009 at the Hilton Hotel in Fairlawn, Ohio.

Maruyama U.S. Inc.

According to Steve Hoctor, Scotsco, Inc Business Development Manager, “I very much enjoyed the content of the Maruyama distributor meeting and felt a real sense of camaraderie among the group. I came away from the meeting feeling optimistic and confident about our collective objective. The Maruyama distributors assembled represent the very best in the industry. Everyone at Scotsco, Inc. is proud to be part of such a distinguished and respected group of professionals. We’re anxious to get going in building the Maruyama brand and to create a loyal and respected following in the market.”

Adds Leif Ringstad, Maruyama U.S., Inc. General Manager, “Working on a theme of managing change in a changing market, this meeting was a huge success. We are all proud of the work accomplished at the distributor meeting. The group assembled in Dallas represents what we believe to be the best equipped independent distribution professionals in the business. I am very encouraged by the enthusiasm and excitement displayed by the group and convinced that 2010 will be our best year ever. This assemblage is proof positive of the importance of independent two-step distribution in being successful in the professional grade outdoor power equipment industry.”

Ariens will produce the Parker products at its manufacturing facility in Auburn, Neb. The Parker line of products, which serve both the consumer and commercial markets, includes Vac-35 Litter Vacuums, all purpose vacuums, ground pack blowers, turf sweepers and lawn sweepers, portable truck loaders, Hurricane Plus Blowers and Thatch-O-Matic Power Rakes.

The company expects to make parts available to distributors in 30 to 60 days. Whole goods availability is expected by December.

Science indicates that a higher “blend wall” is safe for automobile engines, Vilsack said recently in an interview at a conference on global hunger in Des Moines, Iowa. Increasing production of ethanol, made from corn in the U.S., would also meet national goals of energy independence and aid the industry as it attempts to expand. “We will continue to publicly advocate an increase, and privately advocate,” Vilsack said. “Our hope is they understand the significance of this decision as it relates to the future of the industry.”

The U.S. biofuels industry is challenged by infrastructure limitations and a government-imposed limit, called a blend wall, that restricts to 10.2 percent the amount of ethanol that can be mixed with gasoline, the Government Accountability Office said in a recent report. This past spring, a group representing ethanol producers filed an emergency request asking EPA to waive its standard data-gathering process for transportation fuel changes and make E15—a 50% increase from E10 blends—a standard transportation fuel. The emergency waiver request requires EPA to deliver a decision by December 1. The request has encountered resistance from a growing number of interests, including small engine and marine manufacturers and more recently major auto manufacturers that claim greater biofuels content may hurt engine performance and increase corrosion and that more research is needed.