Here is an email from the EAA about ethanol keep you attention on this subject and look for this to happen in your state.
Ronald R. Eason Sr.[KRron] President / CEO Ph: 816-468-4091 Fax: 816-468-5465 http://www.jrl-engineering.com Our Attitude Makes The Difference! -----Original Message----- From: Lynn Nelson [mailto:lnel...@eaa.org] On Behalf Of EAA Government Programs Sent: Tuesday, March 07, 2006 4:10 PM To: Lynn Nelson Subject: EAA e-Alert to Members in Missouri - State Ethanol Issue EAA is sending this e-Alert to EAA members in Missouri as a member service. Missouri Legislative House Bills No. 1270 and 1027 require all gasoline sold to consumers for use in motor vehicles to contain 10% denatured ethanol <http://www.house.mo.gov/bills061/biltxt/commit/HB1270C.HTM> and <http://www.house.mo.gov/bills061/biltxt/intro/HB1270I.htm> Missouri Legislative Senate Bill No. 569 will also require require all gasoline sold to consumers for use in motor vehicles to contain 10% denatured ethanol <http://www3.state.id.us/oasis/S1267.html> <http://www.senate.state.mo.us/06info/bts_web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID =74> The stated purpose of the bills is: This legislation will modify a section of the Missouri Code to implement a 10 percent ethanol blended fuel standard in all grades of gasoline by January 1, 2008. The bills authorize exemptions for the sale of gasoline used in vintage cars (over 25-years old), aircraft, and motorboats. The major problem with the bills is that they authorize deliver of the non-ethanol blended fuels only via "BULK" deliveries: "6. A distributor may sell and deliver directly to a bulk fuel storage tank unblended gasoline if all of the following conditions are met: (1) The bulk fuel storage tank is stationary or permanent; (2) The bulk storage tank is under the control of an owner of littoral or riparian property and located on such property; and (3) The unblended gasoline is available for purchase for use in vehicles, motorboats, or aircraft as defined in subsection 5 of this section. While this exemption does sound good, the problem arises at the delivery end of this exemption - the airport and the gasoline distributors. You need to ask yourself, your airport manager, and the MO DOT Department of Aeronautics ( aviat...@modot.mo.gov <mailto:aviat...@modot.mo.gov> or 573-751-2589 ) a couple of questions to understand the issue: 1. Does your airport have a fuel storage tank on the airport dedicated to autogas for aviation use only? 2. If not, would they be willing to install one? 3. What is the minimum size fuel tank gasoline distributors would accept for delivering non-ethanol premium gasoline to your airport? Most, if not all, gasoline distributors will only deliver a full (bulk) tanker truck - a 5,000 gallon delivery. 4. If your airport is unable or unwilling to install the size of fuel storage tank required, do any of your surrounding airports offer autofuel for aviation uses? 5. If the answer to the above is no, will the airport allow you to store bulk nonethanol-blended fuels in/near the general aviation hangers in 55-gallon drums? 5. The same questions can be asked if you own a vintage car, a motorboat, or a snowmobile/4-wheeler/chain saw (check the owners manual for use of ethanol-blended fuels) The solution, as mentioned below, is for the state legislators and the state governor to modify the bill to allow one grade of gasoline to be ethanol- free; premium, octane rating of 91 or greater. This will cover any and all possible combinations of exemptions to this propose new rule and allow ethanol-free premium gasoline to be available to all - aviation, vintage cars, recreational vehicles, etc. - at every gas station in the state. EAA's concern, and that of many of our members, is that aircraft cannot operate safely with fuel blended with ethanol products. Currently, there are over 735 aircraft registered in Missouri that operate on an FAA-approved auto-fuel STC, plus numerous ultralight vehicles and amateur-built aircraft that operate with engines that require autofuel as their fuel. In addition, all future Special Light-Sport airplanes are designed per ASTM/FAA standards to operate on unleaded gasoline - many powered by Rotax engines that will not operate well on ethanol-blended gasoline. Examples of how other states have approved ethanol-blended laws when their legislators are aware of the ethanol-blended fuel restrictions/issues: Montana - Exemptions from use of ethanol-blended gasoline. (1) Gasoline that is not ethanol-blended as required in 82-15-121 <http://data.opi.state.mt.us/bills/mca/82/15/82-15-121.htm> may be sold or dispensed at a public or private racecourse if the gasoline is intended to be used exclusively as a fuel for off-highway motor sports racing events. (2) Gasoline retailers and wholesale bulk distributors shall hold, store, import, transfer, and offer for sale or use nonethanol-blended unleaded premium grade gasoline with an antiknock index number of 91 or greater. (3) Aviation fuel is not subject to an ethanol blending requirement. Wisconsin - The minimum specifications for automotive gasoline must require that automotive gasoline contain not less than 9.2 percent nor more than 10 percent ethanol. Certain automotive gasoline is exempt from the minimum specifications, including automotive gasoline that meets particular octane requirements and that is sold as fuel at airports or marinas and automotive gasoline that is sold at racetracks for use at motor sports racing events held at a racetrack. "Premium grade gasoline" means automotive gasoline that is unleaded and that has an octane rating of at least 91. Premium grade gasoline that is sold as fuel at an airport, marina, mooring area, or resort, for use in aircraft, a collector vehicle, an all-terrain vehicle, a motorcycle, a boat, a snowmobile, or a small engine. Automotive gasoline that is sold at a racetrack if the gasoline is intended to be used exclusively as a fuel for motor sports racing events at a racetrack. Premium grade gasoline that is sold at a retail gasoline station for use in a collector vehicle, an all-terrain vehicle, a motorcycle, a boat, a snowmobile, or a small engine if no more than one storage tank on the premises of the retail gasoline station is used for storage of the premium grade gasoline and the pump from which the premium grade gasoline is dispensed is posted with a permanent notice stating that 6 the pump dispenses nonoxygenated gasoline for use only in collector vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles, boats, snowmobiles, and small engines. Premium grade gasoline, or automotive gasoline that is 100 octane low lead, that is sold directly for storage in a bulk fuel storage tank if the gasoline is intended for use in aircraft. As you can see the key is asking that all premium grade gasoline with a rating of antiknock rating of ninety-one (91) be ethanol free. This change allows greater flexibility to gasoline dealers and manufactures when supporting collector vehicles, airplanes, motorcycles, boats, snowmobiles, etc. Since 99% of all auto fuel consumers - that's you - cannot afford to purchase bulk amounts of fuel and store it, this change also ensures consumers will have ready access to the fuel they need for their recreation and transportation needs. EAA also feels it is very important that all gasoline station fuel pumps be labeled in a manner that identifies the fuel being pumped as containing ethanol and what percentage blend it is. Therefore, EAA would also recommend a state laws contain a requirement that reads: "Each person shall publicly display and maintain on each pump or other dispensing device from which any gasoline or other product containing more than one per cent by volume of ethanol is sold by such person, signs to inform the public of the amount of ethanol contained in such gasoline or other product." EAA is asking for your support by contacting: 1. Governor Blunt <http://www.gov.mo.gov/constituentform.htm> <http://gov.idaho.gov/ourgov/contact.htm> and ask him to support amending the MO ethanol bills to support an exemption allowing a single grade of gasoline to be ethanol free - ninety-one (91) octane to support aviation, motorboats, vintage cars, and other recreational activities in the great state of MO. 2. Your local state Senators <http://www.senate.mo.gov/06info/senalpha.htm> <http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/senate/membership.cfm> and ask them to support amending the MO ethanol bills to support an exemption allowing a single grade of gasoline to be ethanol free - ninety-one (91) octane to support aviation, motorboats, vintage cars, and other recreational activities in the great state of MO. 3. Your local state Representatives <http://www.house.mo.gov/default.aspx?info=/bills061/member/memmail.htm> <http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/house/membership.cfm> and ask them to support amending the MO ethanol bills to support an exemption allowing a single grade of gasoline to be ethanol free - ninety-one (91) octane to support aviation, motorboats, vintage cars, and other recreational activities in the great state of MO. 4. Senate Bill 569 is now before the Senate Agriculture, Conservation, Parks, and Natural Resources Committee: <http://www.senate.state.mo.us/06info/comm/agri.htm>. As a minimum, it is critical that these state legislators know about this critical ethanol issue. 5. House Bills 1270 and 1027 are now before the House Agriculture Policy Committee: <http://www.house.mo.gov/bills061/commit/com453.htm>. As a minimum, it is critical that these state legislators know about this critical ethanol issue. To find more information about how ethanol affects aviation engines; <http://www.eaa.org/education/fuel/index.html> Randy Randy Hansen EAA Government Relations Director 888-322-4636, extension 6522 Mark your 2006 calendar for the World's Greatest Aviation Celebration ... EAA AirVenture Oshkosh ... Monday, July 24th through Sunday, July 30th. <http://www.airventure.org/> [Randy Hansen]