Washington, D.C. —
Senator John Thune commented today following the announcement by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) of the establishment of safety guidelines for E85 fuel dispensing equipment. Companies and manufacturers can now submit components to UL for testing and certification.
Earlier this year, Senator Thune joined a bipartisan group of Senators in sending a letter to UL CEO Keith Williams requesting the approval of fuel pumps capable of dispensing higher blends of ethanol. The bipartisan letter came as a result of UL's decision last year to suspend its certification of E85 dispensers due to concerns about the potential corrosive effects that E85 may have on fuel dispenser components. E85 is fuel that contains 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.
"Today's announcement by Underwriters Laboratories is welcome news to those of us who are very concerned about America's dangerous dependence on foreign sources of oil. America is producing more and more homegrown energy like E-85 and it is now vital to speed up the delivery of these products to the consumer," said Thune. "Without UL certification, fuel retailers can run into significant problems when installing E-85 pumps with local Fire Marshals and State and County officials who regularly rely on UL's certification when approving new projects and upgrades."
Senator Thune has been a leading advocate for the expanded use of alternative fuels such as ethanol. Earlier this year, Senator Thune introduced a bipartisan bill (S. 331) with Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO), which would provide grants of up to $30,000 to gasoline retailers who install alternative fuel pumps and infrastructure for E85, bio-diesel and other alternative fuels. This legislation is needed because less than one percent of all gas pumps nationwide (roughly 1,100) offer alternative fuels such as E85 ethanol.
Earlier this year, Senator Thune joined a bipartisan group of Senators in sending a letter to UL CEO Keith Williams requesting the approval of fuel pumps capable of dispensing higher blends of ethanol. The bipartisan letter came as a result of UL's decision last year to suspend its certification of E85 dispensers due to concerns about the potential corrosive effects that E85 may have on fuel dispenser components. E85 is fuel that contains 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.
"Today's announcement by Underwriters Laboratories is welcome news to those of us who are very concerned about America's dangerous dependence on foreign sources of oil. America is producing more and more homegrown energy like E-85 and it is now vital to speed up the delivery of these products to the consumer," said Thune. "Without UL certification, fuel retailers can run into significant problems when installing E-85 pumps with local Fire Marshals and State and County officials who regularly rely on UL's certification when approving new projects and upgrades."
Senator Thune has been a leading advocate for the expanded use of alternative fuels such as ethanol. Earlier this year, Senator Thune introduced a bipartisan bill (S. 331) with Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO), which would provide grants of up to $30,000 to gasoline retailers who install alternative fuel pumps and infrastructure for E85, bio-diesel and other alternative fuels. This legislation is needed because less than one percent of all gas pumps nationwide (roughly 1,100) offer alternative fuels such as E85 ethanol.