EPA Clears E15 for Sale at U.S. Gas Stations

DES MOINES, Iowa -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issues its final approval for gas stations to sell fuel blends containing up to 15 percent ethanol, reported the Des Moines Register. However, it may be some time before E15 is available to consumers at the pump.

Most fuel sold in the U.S. contains 10 percent ethanol, the previous upper limit. The EPA first approved E15 in January 2011 but had to complete a series of steps before offering it for sale, in order to prevent misfueling and ensure the fuel is properly marked and sold, according to the report. E15 may be used in cars and light trucks built since the year 2000, but not in older vehicles and light equipment.

In April, the EPA moved closer to facilitating wider distribution of E15 by allowing manufacturers to register as suppliers.

"I think there are a number of stations particularly in the Midwest that will be very interested in doing this and there will certainly be encouragement from the renewable fuel industry for it to be done as quickly as possible," Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told the news outlet. "It's about providing consumers choice and the reality is that choice is also saving them money at the pump."