The pending Environmental Protection Agency decision on allowing up to 15 percent ethanol in the nation's fuel supply for non-flex-fuel vehicles got a boost recently when Underwriters Laboratories approved a fuel dispenser for ethanol blends up to 25 percent (E25).
The Renewable Fuels Association said in a statement that UL has been working to certify various pump dispensing equipment for use with higher level blends, despite the widespread use of these components to dispense E85 ethanol blends.
"UL's certification of this dispenser for up to 25 percent ethanol use is an important step forward and will help expand the use of ethanol," said Robert White, RFA's director of market development. "With EPA expected to approve 15 percent ethanol blends sometime this year, this announcement provides some comfort to gas station owners facing increased ethanol blending. Likewise, it provides comfort to stations looking to install blender pump technology offering a wide range of blends from 10 percent up to 85 percent."
According to the company, the Dresser Wayne Ovation Eco Fuel dispenser helps retailers meet anticipated consumer demand for higher ethanol blends while managing their longer-term investments. The company says its E25 dispenser is compatible with the higher blend rate without any dispenser modifications, "so retailers may not have to upgrade equipment if the federal government increases ethanol blend levels."
Currently, RFA is working in conjunction with the American Coalition for Ethanol and numerous state corn grower associations on the Blend Your Own Ethanol campaign with the goal of installing 5,000 new blender pumps in the next three years.
"While this move by UL is helpful, certification of a dispenser for up to 85 percent ethanol is critical to expanding both the infrastructure for and the use of high level ethanol blends," said RFA's White.
But that may also be addressed soon, according to Dresser Wayne. UL approval is also pending for two new Ovation Eco Fuel dispenser capabilities: high ethanol-grade blending at the dispenser and support for up to E85.
Some analysts predict that EPA will approve the E15 blend, but only for cars of the 2001 model year and newer.
