JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Drivers in Missouri might see another selection at the pump this summer if a new policy backed by Gov. Jay Nixon is put into place, the Associated Press reports. The governor, over the concerns by some legislators, pushed to allow but not require gasoline stations to sell E15 fuel possibly as soon as May 30.

Missouri has been a pioneer in ethanol blended fuel for years, becoming one of the first states in 2006 to require nearly all gasoline have 10% ethanol. This latest expansion of ethanol has come about through a rule change by the Missouri Department of Agriculture instead of a new law, which is how the E10 change happened.

“Expanding the use of renewable fuels like E15 is a proven strategy for boosting our nation's energy independence and bringing more dollars back to farming communities across Missouri,” said Nixon.

The cost of E15 would likely be a few pennies less than E10 gasoline, which could make the higher blend more appealing to drivers. However, while the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) okayed E15 for most vehicles models from 2001 and later, many car makers have expressed concerns that a higher ethanol blend would hurt engines.

The Missouri Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association has been warning its members to proceed with caution when deciding whether to add the fuel. Among its top concerns is that retailers could potentially be involved in liability lawsuits brought by drivers whose use of E15 triggered engine trouble. “Until some of those underlying issues are dealt with, I would dare say that the vast majority of my members will not be selling E15 in the near future,” said Ron Leone, the association’s Executive director.

NACS is supporting federal legislation (H.R. 1214, the Domestic Fuels Protection Act) to address some of the liability issues of which Leone is concerned. Visit nacsonline.com/grassroots to urge your representative to cosponsor this legislation.