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UTAH COUNTY -- There is a change to what you are putting into your gas tank. Many fuel suppliers are now using gasoline blended with ethanol.
Drivers are starting to see notices at the pump, informing them that ethanol is mixed in. Few probably realize what it means and why it is happening.
All drivers pay attention to the price of the gas, and that may explain why few drivers seem to notice signs, which show the gas they are pumping contains up to 10 percent ethanol.
"This is the first time I have noticed it," said driver Aaron Gau. "I haven't seen it before, maybe I haven't paid close enough attention."
Gas stations are required by law to inform consumers that ethanol is now being added into their fuel.
The ethanol blend is mandated by Congress. Petroleum suppliers say it will be in all gasoline in Utah over the next several months. Utah is one of the last states to see ethanol added into gasoline.
"Ethanol does contain a little bit less energy than does gasoline, so I think drivers across the country are reporting a decrease in gas mileage," Lee Peacock of the Utah Petroleum Association.
The government believes that by using some renewable energy, it reduces the reliance on fossil fuels.
Gas refiners say your vehicle should not require any adjustments with the 10 percent ethanol blend.
"Current automobiles ought to run just fine on the ethanol fuel," said Peacock. "Across the country there have been very few instances of issues being raised with the ethanol interfering with performance of the vehicle."
Ethanol does remain controversial in that some question how effective it is. Livestock producers believe it raises feed prices because it creates more demand for corn.
In the future, drivers can expect to see ethanol when they fill up.
"There are different opinions about ethanol across the country," Peacock said. "It really doesn't matter what any of us think because it was mandated by Congress, and unless Congress changes the requirements, we are obligated across the country as fuel suppliers to blend ethanol. And so that's what consumers can count on."
The Department of Environmental Quality says it expects air quality to be a little worse because of the ethanol, since it will add more organic compounds into the emissions of vehicles.
An appeal made to the Environmental Protection Agency by the state of Texas about ethanol in gasoline has already been denied.
E-mail: spenrod@ksl.com
