Fuel Testers - Protect your engines from ethanol alcohol blend gasolines.

View State by State Fuel Laws and Ethanol Labeling Laws.

In summary, the reason you now have alcohol blend fuels (E10) at most gas station pumps is because of several U.S. government and EPA laws, including:

The Clean Air Act (1990) and Alternative Motor Fuels Act (1988)

The Energy Policy Act (2005)

The Renewable Fuel Standard Program (2006, updated in 2007-08.)

The U.S. is a petroleum dependent nation...

As per official U.S. governement statistics from EIA - Energy Information Administration on May 1st, 2008...

The United States imported about 60% of the oil we consumed during 2006, and 70% in 2008.

AND

The United States produces 10% of the world’s oil and consumes over 24%.

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In summary the 5 primary goals for promotion and use of renewable (non-petroleum) fuels include:

To decrease petroleum usage and decrease dependence on foreign oil importing;
To meet rquirements of 1990 Clean Air Act;

Decrease pollution, carbon monoxide and help areas out of compliance with the national Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone;

Replace MTBE with ethanol for oxygenating fuel;
Use ethanol as a gasoline volume extender;
And more recently to meet state mandates (quotas) for renewable fuels.

Renewable fuels include corn (grain) ethanol, cellulosic ethanol, and biodiesel fuels.

Since ethanol is readily available, most renewable fuel laws are met primarily from ethanol-blends of fuel.

Ethanol Fuel History Timeline

2008, February - Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), Revised:

EPA announces the revised Renewable Fuel Standard for 2008: This standard is used by obligated parties (refiners, importers, and blenders, other than oxygen blenders), to calculate their renewable volume obligation. This notice, which is required under section 211 of the Clean Air Act as amended by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, supersedes the notice published November 27, 2007.

2008 standard increased quota from 2007.

2007, December - Energy Independence and Security Act signed by Congress and President Bush. EISA requires the use of 15 billion gallons of renewable (ethanol) fuel by 2015. In 2007 about 6.5 billion gallons were produced.

2006 - September - The Renewable Fuel Standard Program (RFS): This national renewable fuel program is designed to encourage the blending of renewable fuels (ethanol) into our nation's motor vehicle fuel. The nationwide Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS), will double the use of ethanol and biodiesel by 2012. To meet RFS quotas, ethanol will be primarily blended into E10 (conventional gasoline) and E85 (flex-fuel).

2005 -The Energy Policy Act of 2005: The EPA is responsible for regulations to ensure that gasoline sold in the United States contains a minimum volume of renewable fuel (ethanol is a renewable fuel).

President Bush Signed Into Law The First National Energy Plan In More Than A Decade. The President's national energy plan will encourage energy efficiency and conservation, promote alternative and renewable energy sources, reduce our dependence on foreign sources of energy, increase domestic production, modernize the electricity grid, and encourage the expansion of nuclear energy.

2003 to Present: Almost ALL states have followed California's lead, banning MTBE, (a few states still have lawsuits pending with the EPA for exemption from MTBE ban), resulting in MTBE being replaced by ethanol nationwide.

Problems with groundwater contamination from the use of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), the only other available oxygenate and principal octane booster, accelerated the use of ethanol in low-level blends after 1990.

2003: California began switching from MTBE to ethanol to make reformulated gasoline. California was the first state to completely ban MTBE, effective January 1, 2004.

1999: Some states began to pass bans on MTBE because traces of it were showing up in drinking water sources.

1995: The EPA began requiring the use of reformulated gasoline year round in metropolitan areas with the most smog.

1995: EPA issues public bulletin warning for boaters using E10 ethanol fuel.

Late 1990's to Present: Major U.S. auto manufacturers begin selling Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFV's), that can run on up to 85% ethanol. About 5 million FFV's/AFV's are on the road today.

All automobile manufacturers re-designed automobiles to be compatible with E10 gasoline.

1990 - Clean Air Act Amendments: Mandated the winter use of oxygenated fuels in 39 major carbon monoxide non-attainment areas (based on EPA emissions standards for carbon dioxide not being met, in areas with unhealthy levels of carbon monoxide. ) and required year-round use of oxygenates in 9 severe ozone non-attainment areas in 1995.

The Clean Air Act (1990) and Alternative Motor Fuels Act (1988): Contain provisions for mandating oxygenated fuel and RFG. Reformulated Gasoline RFG = Ethanol and MTBE.

Ethanol History 1940's to 1988:

1988 Denver, Colorado, mandated ethanol oxygenates fuels for winter use to control carbon monoxide emissions. Other cities followed.

1980's Oxygenates added to gasoline included MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether - made from natural gas and petroleum) and ETBE (Ethyl Tertiary Butyl Ether - made from ethanol and petroleum).

1975 U.S. begins to phase out lead in gasoline. MTBE eventually replaced lead.

(Note: Later, between 2004 to 2006, MTBE banned in almost all states, due to groundwater contamination and health risks).

1940's to late 1970's Virtually no commercial fuel ethanol was sold to the general public in the U.S. - due to the low price of petroleum and gasoline.