AAA CALLS ON GASOLINE RETAILERS IN OKLAHOMA TO LABEL “E15” PUMPS

NEWS from AAA Oklahoma, Jan. 24 – In the wake of the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision last Friday to allow motor vehicles made since 2001 to use a blend of 15 percent ethanol and 85 percent gasoline, a fuel known as E15, AAA is urging gasoline retailers in Oklahoma to voluntarily put labels on their pumps informing motorists precisely what type of fuel their pumps dispense.

“Stations are currently required to label pumps that deliver ethanol-laced fuel but these labels do not have to reveal what percentage of the fuel is ethanol,” said Chuck Mai, spokesman for AAA Oklahoma. “Although we haven’t received any reports that E15 is being sold in Oklahoma yet, there’s no doubt it’s on its way here. Consumers deserve to know exactly what they’re buying.”

Previously, the maximum amount of ethanol that could be blended with gasoline was ten percent, a fuel called E10. The EPA now says their studies have shown that E15 is safe for all model year 2001 and newer cars and light-duty trucks, although the EPA has refused to release the actual test data used to make that decision.

“When E10 first hit the state a couple of years ago, Oklahomans were caught by surprise,” said Mai. “No one knew E10 was being sold here until motorists started complaining of suddenly getting poorer fuel economy. And then it took action by the Oklahoma Legislature to force stations to label their pumps. This time, we’re hoping retailers will act on their own to label their E15 pumps.” 

Last fall, the EPA proposed a labeling change for the pumps of stations carrying the higher ethanol blend but it remains unclear when a final regulation outlining new pump labeling requirements will be issued, if at all.

On the national level, AAA continues to talk with the EPA about the need to make sure that when E15 is made available to consumers it is done with a strong commitment to safety and proper vehicle function.

The EPA waiver allowing E15 does not include use of the blend in motorcycles, heavy-duty trucks and non-road engines.