State Laws On Ethanol In Gasoline: Only Seven States Require E10 Blend

Under the Renewable Fuels Standard passed in 2007, the Federal government requires certain volumes of ethanol to be blended into the U.S. transportation fuel supply.

However, states have discretion as to how much (or how little) ethanol goes into fuels sold within their borders.

And it turns out that relatively few states are doing much to encourage the sale of greater amounts of ethanol.

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Ethanol-blended fuel can be found at many gas stations, but only a handful of states require it, according to a recent survey of laws conducted by Hemmings Motor News.

Only seven states--Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington--have mandates that require ethanol to be blended with the fuel supply.

Louisiana and Washington require ethanol to make up 2 percent of the total volume of fuel sold, while the other states specify E10--a blend of 10 percent ethanol and 90 percent gasoline.

However, four more states--Minnesota, Montana, Oregon, and Pennsylvania--have ethanol mandates requiring local refineries to be able to produce certain minimum amounts of the fuel.

And some states--including Minnesota, Missouri, and Oregon--have exemptions for premium gasoline, or for fuel used in older vehicles.

Over the last decade-plus, a total of 14 states have reportedly tried to pass ethanol mandates, but apparently a 50-percent success rate is the best advocates can muster.

ALSO SEE: Adding Ethanol To Gasoline May Boost Global Oil Use: Study