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Now the government wants to mandate the minimum you may purchase at the pump!
"The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has mandated that all consumers in the United States must purchase at least 4 gallons of gasoline when they go to the gas station, if they are getting fuel from a pump that also offers a new E15 ethanol-gasoline blend.
The Obama administration wants consumers to use more of the E15 fuel – a blend that contains 15 percent ethanol – but the problem is that many gas stations use blender pumps, which offer several types of fuel and, after pumping, there always is a residual amount of fuel in the hose.
Not only does E15 lower fuel efficiency, it may void the manufacturer's warranty. This is particularly troublesome, since it also may cause premature engine failure. Also, many motorcycles don't even hold 4 gallons.
Some Republicans are fighting this mandate.
Quote:
"The EPA has no business telling Americans how much fuel they must purchase to meet ethanol requirements, according to Sensenbrenner [R, WI], who has challenged the agency's decision.
"This type of government meddling is completely contradictory to our free market principles, and it is a dangerous precedent to set," he said Tuesday in a news release." [1]
Actually, the precedent has already been set. First we're being forced to buy healthcare, then we're forced to buy a minimum at the pump...
Now the government wants to mandate the minimum you may purchase at the pump!
"The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has mandated that all consumers in the United States must purchase at least 4 gallons of gasoline when they go to the gas station, if they are getting fuel from a pump that also offers a new E15 ethanol-gasoline blend.
The Obama administration wants consumers to use more of the E15 fuel – a blend that contains 15 percent ethanol – but the problem is that many gas stations use blender pumps, which offer several types of fuel and, after pumping, there always is a residual amount of fuel in the hose.
My thoughts are that this is a complete and total misrepresentation of the facts, though that's hardly surprising since Obama's name is attached to it. It seems to be Standard Operating Procedure for the Obamaphobes to take a tidbit of information, divorce that tidbit from the whole truth, attach the President's name and holler, "OMG! OBAMA!" And, of course, the simpletons lap it up like a drug.
Here's the REST of the story:
When the EPA was given the authority to allow the sale of E-15 fuel, one of their concerns was, and still is, fuel delivered through a common hose which is used for other kinds of fuels. The concern is that the consumer may receive excessive amounts of ethanol which could damage their engine. This is especially a concern for consumers who drive vehicles older than a 2001 model because E-15 is not appropriate for those vehicle, or for small engines like lawn mowers or chainsaws.
To prevent this, the EPA requires retailers to submit a Mitigating Misfueling Plan (MMP) to the EPA for approval. The EPA did not mandate how this is to be done, but simply required retailers to explain how they would prevent the dispensing of too much ethanol or dispensing ethanol into the wrong kinds of motors.
Among those who submitted such a plan was the Renewable Fuels Association, a bio-fuel industry trade group and not a part of the federal government. Their plan was approved by the EPA and among the options their retailers have to mitigate the delivery of harmful amounts of E-15 are these, which are included in the RFA Retailers Handbook:
Below are a few strategies to mitigate this EPA concern:
• Configuration 1: For a dedicated E15 dispenser or a dedicated E15 hose at a multiple fuel dispenser, nothing further is required.
• Configuration 2: For a common hose dispensing both E10 and E15, EPA’s concern is addressed by requiring a minimum transaction volume and prominent display of a label communicating that requirement next to the fuel selection button or nozzle hanger, consistent with applicable regulations. In this case, a retailer would need to require a 4 gallon minimum transaction volume and post a label stating “Minimum Fueling Volume 4 Gallons; Dispensing Less May Violate Federal Law” or alternative wording approved by EPA.2
• Configuration 3: For a common hose dispensing multiple fuels that include E15 and higher ethanol blends, EPA’s concern may be addressed by requiring minimum transaction volumes with labeling and, in some cases, adjusting the ethanol content of the fuels being blended. What the minimum transaction volume should be or what adjustment of concentration would be sufficient will depend on the particular circumstances of the blender pump, available blendstocks and other factors. For example, for hoses dispensing E15 and higher blend levels (e.g., E85) adjustment of ethanol content of the fuels being blended may be needed to compensate for the higher ethanol content of the residual fuel in the hose. In general, the blended fuel’s contents can be adjusted to compensate for the varying concentrations of ethanol and gasoline in fuel blends. Technological approaches for eliminating or reducing the amount of residual fuel may also become available. A retailer considering dispensing E15 from the same hose as higher ethanol blends needs to work with EPA to determine what is appropriate based on the particular pump and blending configuration for approval of a MMP.
So? Is it clear now? The EPA did NOT mandate a minimum purchase, but is allowing the Renewable Fuels Association that option, if the retailer so desires, AT THEIR REQUEST.
That's a far cry from "Obama forces us to buy 4 gallons of gas," isn't it?
I repeat, (from my original source): "Many gas stations use blender pumps."
From Skillkit's post:
"Configuration 2: For a common hose dispensing both E10 and E15, EPA’s concern is addressed by requiring a minimum transaction volume..."
"Configuration 3: For a common hose dispensing multiple fuels that include E15 and higher ethanol blends, EPA’s concern may be addressed by requiring minimum transaction volumes..."
I repeat, (from my originally quoted source): "Many gas stations use blender pumps."
From your post:
"Configuration 2: For a common hose dispensing both E10 and E15, EPA’s concern is addressed by requiring a minimum transaction volume..."
"Configuration 3: For a common hose dispensing multiple fuels that include E15 and higher ethanol blends, EPA’s concern may be addressed by requiring minimum transaction volumes..."
And, I will repeat from my post:
"So? Is it clear now? The EPA did NOT mandate a minimum purchase, but is allowing the Renewable Fuels Association that option, if the retailer so desires, AT THEIR REQUEST."
The question is.....will 15% become standard and 10% disappear.
What motorists will choose 15% if there is a choice??
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