The American Automobile Association (AAA) is calling on the Environmental Protection Agency to “lower the amount of ethanol required to be blended into gasoline for 2014” in order to “protect drivers by preventing a possible surge in gas prices or the increased use of potentially damaging E15 gasoline.”

The ethanol industry wasted no time in responding. “The Energy Department and more than 40 studies say that more than 60 percent of cars on the road today can safely use E15,” said Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president Bob Dinneen of the blend that has been approved by the EPA for 2001 and newer vehicles. “More than 40 million miles have been driven on E15 without a single complaint.”

Dinneen says RFA has reached out to AAA with data that proves E15’s safety, including the recently released NREL review of E15 studies but so far have been rebuffed. “Why is AAA resistant to data that benefits a nation of drivers?” Dinneen asked.