The US Environmental Protection Agency has approved an ethanol trade group's plan to alert drivers against using gasoline blended with 15% ethanol in vehicles or lawn equipment not suited for it.
The agency told the Renewable Fuels Association in a letter Thursday that it had signed off on its proposed "misfueling mitigation plan." Individual ethanol producers can use the plan when applying to EPA to register their fuels.
The decision brings the gasoline blend, known as E15, one step closer to availability. Nevertheless, gasoline retailers predict widespread sales of the fuel remain years if not a decade away because of liability and equipment concerns.
RFA President Bob Dinneen acknowledged that E15 faces a long road.
"Gaining meaningful market penetration for E15 will not happen overnight," Dinneen said in a statement. "It will take a constant and driven effort to educate consumers and fend off unfounded claims by anti-ethanol voices in the fuels industry and on Capitol Hill."
Most US service stations offer gasoline containing 10% ethanol, a mix approved for widespread use. EPA has only cleared E15 for use in vehicles made in 2001 or later.
RFA expects stations in Iowa, Illinois and Kansas to offer E15 first.
