EPA Approves E15 Pump Label

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved a new label for E15 fuel pumps, alerting consumers to the higher ethanol/gasoline blend of 15% ethanol after approving E15 as a standard transportation fuel in 2010. Last October, EPA granted the ethanol industry a waiver approving the use of E15 in 2007 and newer light-duty vehicles. Earlier this year, EPA extended the waiver to include 2001-06 model year cars and light trucks as well. For the past 30 years, E10 was the highest ethanol-gasoline blend approved.

As part of the process, EPA stipulated that development of a proper label for the fuel would be necessary before E15′s commercial launch. The label is designed to prevent consumers from putting E15 into vehicles, engines and equipment not currently approved for the higher ethanol blend. The EPA still has to officially register E15 before it can be sold, and gas station owners will need to invest in new pumps for the E15 fuel, along with separate storage tanks.

The label itself was a source of contention: Pro-ethanol groups wanted the label to be informational in nature, while those opposed to higher ethanol blends wanted it to read more as a warning. EPA had proposed the label contain an information component, legal approval component, technical warning and legal warning. So far, E15 has only been approved for autos, and technically it’s illegal for consumers to put E15 in small engine equipment.

A number of different groups, including the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, have opposed the increase in allowed ethanol blends due to concerns that it could corrode engines or other key components. The National Association of Convenience Stores and the Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers of America have opposed the new label, warning that retailers selling E15 could be held liable for damages if consumers accidentally use the fuel in unapproved engines.

EPA E15 sample label from fall 2010; final version is due out soon.