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New pump standards expected to boost E85

Posted October 15, 2007 11:00 pm

Tim Landis

A ruling on safety standards for pumps used to dispense E85 probably won't bring an immediate boom in the number of service stations selling the blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.

But backers of the alternative fuel are certain there would be no boom without it.

A little more than a year after Underwriters Laboratories suspended use of the familiar "UL" safety label on pumps used to dispense fuel containing more than 15 percent ethanol, the Chicago-based research group announced Tuesday it has come up with certification guidelines for the equipment.

"Basically, it's the same requirements that apply to gasoline pumps. You have a volatile fuel and electrical equipment, but the thing that is different is the corrosive effect of ethanol on fuel-handling equipment," said John Drengenberg, consumer affairs manager for UL and one of the engineers on the E85 project.

The U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also helped devise the new guidelines.

Drengenberg said it could take time for manufacturers to submit dispensing equipment for certification, but that the safety rules should now encourage even greater use of E85 and other ethanol-based blends.

Blends below 15 percent were not considered a problem for traditional fuel pumps.

The expansion of E85 stations stalled last year after the decision by UL to suspend certification of pumps because of concerns about the corrosive effects of ethanol on plastic and soft metals such as aluminum and copper.

While no serious leaks or explosions were reported, dealers stopped adding the pumps out of liability concerns. Illinois is a leading state for ethanol production and has nearly 160 stations that sell E85.

"I think this is not a final step, it's a first step," said Bill Fleischli, executive vice president of the Illinois Petroleum Marketers Association that represents 500 convenience stores and services stations in Illinois.

Fleischli said he believes dealers will remain cautious about adding E85 pumps until a manufacturer wins the "UL" certification, and the cost of modifications is known. Stations selling E85 prior to the Underwriter Laboratories decision last fall were allowed to continue selling it.

Last year's decision also frustrated ethanol supporters who believed E85 was finally on a roll as an alternative to petroleum-based fuels, said Mark Lambert, spokesman for the Illinois Corn Marketing Board.

"It took the momentum right out of E85. Now, they better stand back, there's so much pent-up demand," Lambert said, adding that ethanol supporters are ready to ramp up marketing.

"This is a very significant step. Should it be significant, probably not? It's a step we have to go through because we live in a society that's worried about litigation," he said.

Tim Landis can be reached at (217) 788-1536 or tim.landis@sj-r.com.

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