Refiners Worry Lack of E15 Stations Will Cause RFS Non-Compliance
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) …API has legally challenged every step of the U.S. EPA’s approval of E15, claiming that more scientific research should be completed before it is allowed to be used in anything other than flex-fuel infrastructure and vehicles. But the group also admits that without widespread use of ethanol blends greater than E10, refiners may be unable to meet increasing renewable fuel standard (RFS) volume requirements, which will subject them to fines of up to $37,500 per day per violation. Therefore, API supports proposed legislation that would relieve regulatory requirements for retailers seeking to offer E15 using existing infrastructure.
…Because there is no mandate requiring the sale of E15, it remains to be determined how quickly retailers across the nation will move to sell E15 once infrastructure compatibility issues are resolved. However, in some Midwest states, retail stations that have installed blender pumps are expected to begin offering E15 to customers driving 2001 and newer vehicles any day. Blender pumps are approved for use with any ethanol blend up to E85 and so are not constrained by the same compatibility issues facing owners of conventional retail dispensers. READ MORE
