But North Carolina does have a statute requiring that gas pumps be accurately labeled for ethanol content. It is Paragraph 143-143.6 (b) (4). (Expires July, 1, 2009?) Distribution of fuels that are a blend of petroleum and ethanol. Note: the label law was allowed to expire.
North Carolina does have a special law that is causing a real problem with the oil companies. It is referred to as the N.C. Ethanol Fair Competition Act, Session Law 2008-222 / Senate Bill 1339. It requires that "A supplier that imports gasoline into the State shall offer gasoline for sale to a distributor or retailer that is not preblended with fuel alcohol and that is suitable for subsequent blending with fuel alcohol." Seems pretty inocuous but it is causing major lawsuits by the oil companies. I'll leave it up to you to figure out why, but it will cause a big wrinkle in taking the state suboctane.
Every mandatory E10 state has exemptions to their blending law, because there are a number of piston engine applications that should not, and some that cannot, use ethanol blended gasoline. Unfortunately the exemptions are not uniform. They vary from only one exemption in Washington, aircraft, to a universal exemption of premium unleaded in Missouri. All states exempt aircraft usage, but most states like Oregon and Washington make it almost impossible to get unblended gasoline. Oregon is the only state that allows for unblended regular and premium gasoline for the exemptions, and then makes it almost impossible to get any unblended gasoline. All other mandatory ethanol states just allow clear premium unleaded gasoline for the exempted classes.
The following piston engine applications should not use ethanol blended gasoline:
We urge people to work on legislation in each state to prohibit the blending of ethanol into premium unleaded gasoline and to require the accurate labeling of pumps that dispense ethanol. You are also urged to write the EPA and ask them to prohibit the blending of ethanol in all of the premium unleaded gasoline produced in the country; they have the authority to do that with a stroke of the pen and have been urged to do that by numerous organizations.
If you are interested in supporting the Coalition please email us, or use the contact button above.
If you need information, with references, in order to frame arguments against ethanol blending, use these Talking Points.