E15 Coming to Missouri

Missouri Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association expresses concern about potential liability factors associated with misfueling.

May 21, 2014

ST. LOUIS – New, non-mandatory rules that go into effect June 1 will allow Missouri gasoline retailers to sell E15, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. With the change, Missouri joins a dozen other states that offer E15.

“It’s bringing in another low-cost fuel to consumers,” said Bradley Schad, director of market development with the Missouri Corn Growers Association. “It’s actually helping drive the economy here in Missouri because we produce ethanol in Missouri.”

However, not everyone is as pleased with the change. AAA has opposed E15 on the grounds that 90% of vehicles on the road today have yet to be approved by automakers to use the higher ethanol blend fuel.

The Missouri Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association has also expressed its disapproval of the regulation, pointing out the potential liability factor for retailers if a car filling up with E15 is damaged. Gasoline station operators also must be very careful to ensure that the equipment to store and dispense E15 is licensed and insured specifically for E15 use. The association has recommended its members avoid offering E15 until these issues have been resolved. “For those few marketers that may start dipping their toes in this, there’s so many pitfalls,” said Ron Leone, the association’s director.

While a dozen states already approve the sale of E15, only 59 gasoline stations in the country offer the fuel, according to the Renewable Fuels Association’s January count. NACS is supporting federal legislation (H.R. 1214, the Domestic Fuels Protection Act) to address some of the liability issues about which Leone is concerned. Visit nacsonline.com/grassroots to urge your representative to cosponsor this legislation.

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