Kansas Gas Station First to Sell E15 in United States

LAWRENCE, Kan. -- Less than one month after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued final approval for gas stations to sell E15 fuel, a local Zarco 66 gas station becomes the first to offer the 15 percent ethanol/85 percent gasoline blend for sale.

The Zarco 66 station is located at 1500 E. 23rd St. in Lawrence and a formal grand opening of the fuel pumps will take place on July 18. Plans are in place for a second Zarco 66, at 2518 E. Logan in Ottawa, Kan., to begin selling E15 soon, according to a release.

"Alternatives to gasoline are critically important to our nation's energy future and Americans deserve to have a choice of cost-competitive fuel at the pump," said Scott Zaremba, owner of Zarco 66 stations. "With the help of the Kansas Corn Commission, East Kansas Agri-Energy and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), we are pleased to be the first to offer consumers real choice at the pump in the form of E15 ethanol fuel."

Zaremba, vice president of the Petroleum Marketers of Kansas, blends Zarco 66 fuel options right at each of his stations. Pumps offering E15 with the proper labeling will also offer E10 and other ethanol blends via technology known as blender pumps.

"By a margin of three to one, Americans are clamoring for real choices at the pump. The roll out and adoption of E15 is the first step in delivering Americans the choice they want and deserve," said RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen. "E15 has been the most vigorously tested fuel to be approved by the EPA. Ethanol has long proven itself to be a safe and effective fuel for consumers, and E15 will be no exception."

The EPA gave its final approval for the sale of E15 in mid-June. The agency 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, as CSNews Online previously reported. 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.