Phillips Cleans Up
LOS ANGELES - As part of its ongoing effort to phase out MTBE, the controversial fuel additive, Bartlesville, Okla.-based Phillips Petroleum Corp., said it is the first gasoline retailer in California to offer non-MTBE gasoline year-round at all of its 1,500 locations throughout the state.
"We have fulfilled a commitment to our customers and to the state to offer non-MTBE gasoline as quickly as possible," said Mark Harper, vice president of wholesale marketing for Phillips Petroleum Co., the owner of the 76 brand. "Over the past 18 months, we have taken proactive measures to be the first company to sell non-MTBE gasoline at our 76-branded retail outlets in California a year-and-a-half ahead of the state's deadline. We're pleased to see other companies in California have followed our early lead by committing to eliminate MTBE from their gasoline by the end of the year."
Phillips will continue to manufacture a small amount of MTBE-blended gasoline to meet the supply needs of unbranded independent gasoline marketers in California. The independent refiner also said it would make non-MTBE gasoline available to its current independent unbranded marketers who wish to purchase it.
Specialty 100-octane racing gasoline sold at a limited number of 76 locations may still contain MTBE.
The Clean Air Act of 1990 requires the use of oxygenates such as MTBE in reformulated gasoline. Phillips said it supports federal legislation that would repeal the oxygen mandate and provide refiners the flexibility necessary to phase out the use of MTBE nationwide.
"We have fulfilled a commitment to our customers and to the state to offer non-MTBE gasoline as quickly as possible," said Mark Harper, vice president of wholesale marketing for Phillips Petroleum Co., the owner of the 76 brand. "Over the past 18 months, we have taken proactive measures to be the first company to sell non-MTBE gasoline at our 76-branded retail outlets in California a year-and-a-half ahead of the state's deadline. We're pleased to see other companies in California have followed our early lead by committing to eliminate MTBE from their gasoline by the end of the year."
Phillips will continue to manufacture a small amount of MTBE-blended gasoline to meet the supply needs of unbranded independent gasoline marketers in California. The independent refiner also said it would make non-MTBE gasoline available to its current independent unbranded marketers who wish to purchase it.
Specialty 100-octane racing gasoline sold at a limited number of 76 locations may still contain MTBE.
The Clean Air Act of 1990 requires the use of oxygenates such as MTBE in reformulated gasoline. Phillips said it supports federal legislation that would repeal the oxygen mandate and provide refiners the flexibility necessary to phase out the use of MTBE nationwide.