Domestic Fuel

Representatives from the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) teamed up at the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) Show in Las Vegas last week to promote the BYO Ethanol blender pump program.

Robert White (left) with RFA says blender pumps that can offer a variety of ethanol blends, from E10 to E85 and several steps in between, which gives consumers more choices and retailers more potential income opportunities. “With a blender pump for ethanol, you have a dispenser that everyone can use,” White said at the show. “Whether they’re fueling their lawnmower, their motorcycle, their legacy vehicle, their flex-fuel vehicle, there’s something for everyone.”

However, retailers have expressed concerns about liability issues in the event that consumers put the wrong type of fuel in a certain engine and it causes damage. “We promote standardizing labeling practices for the retailers because we want them to be protected. If they’re selling our product we don’t want any liability issues for them,” White said. The blender pumps are clearly labeled that blends above 10 percent are only for flex-fuel vehicles.

Domestic Fuel reporter Joanna Schroeder interviewed Robert about some of the ethanol blend issues they were discussing with retailers at the 2009 NACS show. Listen to or download that interview here.

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