alpinelakespilot2000
Well Known Member
For those who may not be EAA members with e-mail alert, just got this disconcerting alert from them regarding fuel availability in Washington...
As a former legislative staffer, I know that the more correspondence against this the better.
Steve
Subject: EAA is sending this e-Alert to EAA members in Washington as a member service
To: "Randy Hansen" <[email protected]>
EAA is sending this e-Alert to EAA members in Washington as a member service.
Washington Legislative Senate Bill No. 6508 and House Bill 2738 will require all gasoline sold to consumers for use in motor vehicles to contain 2% denatured ethanol by December 1, 2008 - with no exceptions for aviation or recreational activities. Both bills also state that the WA Director of Agriculture may, by rule, increase that percentage to 10%.
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Pdf/Bills/Senate Bills/6508-S.E.pdf - Senate Bill No. 6508 , (new) Section 3(1)
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Pdf/Bills/House Bills/2738-S.E.pdf - House Bill 2738, (new) Section 3(1)
The stated purpose of the bills is to promote agriculture within the state of Washington. They further state the production of ethanol in Washington will significantly strengthen our economy, particularly in rural areas, providing jobs, local tax base and new markets for farm crops. Using ethanol-blended fuel in Washington will reduce our dependence on imported fuels and will also reduce emissions from motor vehicles and the adverse impacts of air pollution within the State
EAA's concern, and that of many of our members, is that aircraft cannot operate safely with fuel blended with ethanol products. Currently, there are over 600 airplanes registered in Washington that operate on an FAA-approved auto-fuel STC, plus numerous ultralight vehicles and amateur-built aircraft that operate with engines that require autofuel as their fuel. In addition, all future Special Light-Sport airplanes are designed per ASTM/FAA standards to operate on unleaded gasoline - with no ethanol. And, many of your recreational vehicles - 4-wheelers, snowmobiles, gas powered weed-eaters, chain saws, etc. cannot operate with ethanol blended gasoline.
The best solution is for the state legislature to designate one grade of gasoline to remain ethanol free for aviation and recreational activity use.
Examples of how other states have approved ethanol-blended laws when their legislators are aware of the ethanol-blended fuel restrictions/issues:
Montana -
Exemptions from use of ethanol-blended gasoline. (1) Gasoline that is not ethanol-blended as required in 82-15-121 <http://data.opi.state.mt.us/bills/mca/82/15/82-15-121.htm> may be sold or dispensed at a public or private racecourse if the gasoline is intended to be used exclusively as a fuel for off-highway motor sports racing events.
(2) Gasoline retailers and wholesale bulk distributors shall hold, store, import, transfer, and offer for sale or use nonethanol-blended unleaded premium grade gasoline with an antiknock index number of 91 or greater.
(3) Aviation fuel is not subject to an ethanol blending requirement.
Wisconsin -
The minimum specifications for automotive gasoline must require that automotive gasoline contain not less than 9.2 percent nor more than 10 percent ethanol. Certain automotive gasoline is exempt from the minimum specifications, including automotive gasoline that meets particular octane requirements and that is sold as fuel at airports or marinas and automotive gasoline that is sold at racetracks for use at motor sports racing events held at a racetrack. "Premium grade gasoline" means automotive gasoline that is unleaded and that has an octane rating of at least 91.
Premium grade gasoline that is sold as fuel at an airport, marina, mooring area, or resort, for use in aircraft, a collector vehicle, an all-terrain vehicle, a motorcycle, a boat, a snowmobile, or a small engine.
Automotive gasoline that is sold at a racetrack if the gasoline is intended to be used exclusively as a fuel for motor sports racing events at a racetrack.
Premium grade gasoline that is sold at a retail gasoline station for use in a collector vehicle, an all-terrain vehicle, a motorcycle, a boat, a snowmobile, or a small engine if no more than one storage tank on the premises of the retail gasoline station is used for storage of the premium grade gasoline and the pump from which the premium grade gasoline is dispensed is posted with a permanent notice stating that 6 the pump dispenses nonoxygenated gasoline for use only in collector vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles, boats, snowmobiles, and small engines.
Premium grade gasoline, or automotive gasoline that is 100 octane low lead, that is sold directly for storage in a bulk fuel storage tank if the gasoline is intended for use in aircraft.
Montana -
This bill is still pending, but the wording has been changed to read: A gasoline retailer may hold, store, import, transfer, distribute, offer for sale or use nonethanol-blended unleaded premium grade gasoline with an antiknock index (AKI) number of ninety-one (91) or greater."
As you can see the key is asking that all premium grade gasoline with a rating of antiknock rating of ninety-one (91) be ethanol free. This change allows greater flexibility to gasoline dealers and manufactures when supporting collector vehicles, airplanes, motorcycles, boats, snowmobiles, etc. Since 99% of all auto fuel consumers - that's you - cannot afford to purchase bulk amounts of fuel and store it, this change also ensures consumers will have ready access to the fuel they need for their recreation and transportation needs.
EAA also feels it is very important that all gasoline station fuel pumps be labeled in a manner that identifies the fuel being pumped as containing ethanol and what percentage blend it is. Therefore, EAA would also recommend a state laws contain a requirement that reads: "Each person shall publicly display and maintain on each pump or other dispensing device from which any gasoline or other product containing more than one per cent by volume of ethanol is sold by such person, signs to inform the public of the amount of ethanol contained in such gasoline or other product."
EAA is asking for your support by contacting:
1. Governor Gregorie http://www.governor.wa.gov/contact/default.htm and ask her to support amending Senate Bill 6508 and House Bill 2738 to support exemptions allowing aviation and recreational uses of gasoline that must remain ethanol free. This action is critical to aviation safety.
2. Your local state Senators http://www.leg.wa.gov/senate/members/default.htm and ask them to support amending Bill 6508 to support exemptions allowing aviation and recreational uses of gasoline that must remain ethanol free. This action is critical to aviation safety.
3. Your local state Representatives http://www1.leg.wa.gov/House/members+by+district.htm and ask them to support amending Bill 2738 to support exemptions allowing aviation and recreational uses of gasoline that must remain ethanol free. This action is critical to aviation safety.
To find more information about how ethanol affects aviation engines; http://www.eaa.org/education/fuel/index.html
Randy
Randy Hansen
EAA Government Relations Director
888-322-4636, extension 6522
Mark your 2006 calendar for the World's Greatest Aviation Celebration ... EAA AirVenture Oshkosh ... Monday, July 24th through Sunday, July 30th. http://www.airventure.org/
As a former legislative staffer, I know that the more correspondence against this the better.
Steve
Subject: EAA is sending this e-Alert to EAA members in Washington as a member service
To: "Randy Hansen" <[email protected]>
EAA is sending this e-Alert to EAA members in Washington as a member service.
Washington Legislative Senate Bill No. 6508 and House Bill 2738 will require all gasoline sold to consumers for use in motor vehicles to contain 2% denatured ethanol by December 1, 2008 - with no exceptions for aviation or recreational activities. Both bills also state that the WA Director of Agriculture may, by rule, increase that percentage to 10%.
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Pdf/Bills/Senate Bills/6508-S.E.pdf - Senate Bill No. 6508 , (new) Section 3(1)
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Pdf/Bills/House Bills/2738-S.E.pdf - House Bill 2738, (new) Section 3(1)
The stated purpose of the bills is to promote agriculture within the state of Washington. They further state the production of ethanol in Washington will significantly strengthen our economy, particularly in rural areas, providing jobs, local tax base and new markets for farm crops. Using ethanol-blended fuel in Washington will reduce our dependence on imported fuels and will also reduce emissions from motor vehicles and the adverse impacts of air pollution within the State
EAA's concern, and that of many of our members, is that aircraft cannot operate safely with fuel blended with ethanol products. Currently, there are over 600 airplanes registered in Washington that operate on an FAA-approved auto-fuel STC, plus numerous ultralight vehicles and amateur-built aircraft that operate with engines that require autofuel as their fuel. In addition, all future Special Light-Sport airplanes are designed per ASTM/FAA standards to operate on unleaded gasoline - with no ethanol. And, many of your recreational vehicles - 4-wheelers, snowmobiles, gas powered weed-eaters, chain saws, etc. cannot operate with ethanol blended gasoline.
The best solution is for the state legislature to designate one grade of gasoline to remain ethanol free for aviation and recreational activity use.
Examples of how other states have approved ethanol-blended laws when their legislators are aware of the ethanol-blended fuel restrictions/issues:
Montana -
Exemptions from use of ethanol-blended gasoline. (1) Gasoline that is not ethanol-blended as required in 82-15-121 <http://data.opi.state.mt.us/bills/mca/82/15/82-15-121.htm> may be sold or dispensed at a public or private racecourse if the gasoline is intended to be used exclusively as a fuel for off-highway motor sports racing events.
(2) Gasoline retailers and wholesale bulk distributors shall hold, store, import, transfer, and offer for sale or use nonethanol-blended unleaded premium grade gasoline with an antiknock index number of 91 or greater.
(3) Aviation fuel is not subject to an ethanol blending requirement.
Wisconsin -
The minimum specifications for automotive gasoline must require that automotive gasoline contain not less than 9.2 percent nor more than 10 percent ethanol. Certain automotive gasoline is exempt from the minimum specifications, including automotive gasoline that meets particular octane requirements and that is sold as fuel at airports or marinas and automotive gasoline that is sold at racetracks for use at motor sports racing events held at a racetrack. "Premium grade gasoline" means automotive gasoline that is unleaded and that has an octane rating of at least 91.
Premium grade gasoline that is sold as fuel at an airport, marina, mooring area, or resort, for use in aircraft, a collector vehicle, an all-terrain vehicle, a motorcycle, a boat, a snowmobile, or a small engine.
Automotive gasoline that is sold at a racetrack if the gasoline is intended to be used exclusively as a fuel for motor sports racing events at a racetrack.
Premium grade gasoline that is sold at a retail gasoline station for use in a collector vehicle, an all-terrain vehicle, a motorcycle, a boat, a snowmobile, or a small engine if no more than one storage tank on the premises of the retail gasoline station is used for storage of the premium grade gasoline and the pump from which the premium grade gasoline is dispensed is posted with a permanent notice stating that 6 the pump dispenses nonoxygenated gasoline for use only in collector vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles, boats, snowmobiles, and small engines.
Premium grade gasoline, or automotive gasoline that is 100 octane low lead, that is sold directly for storage in a bulk fuel storage tank if the gasoline is intended for use in aircraft.
Montana -
This bill is still pending, but the wording has been changed to read: A gasoline retailer may hold, store, import, transfer, distribute, offer for sale or use nonethanol-blended unleaded premium grade gasoline with an antiknock index (AKI) number of ninety-one (91) or greater."
As you can see the key is asking that all premium grade gasoline with a rating of antiknock rating of ninety-one (91) be ethanol free. This change allows greater flexibility to gasoline dealers and manufactures when supporting collector vehicles, airplanes, motorcycles, boats, snowmobiles, etc. Since 99% of all auto fuel consumers - that's you - cannot afford to purchase bulk amounts of fuel and store it, this change also ensures consumers will have ready access to the fuel they need for their recreation and transportation needs.
EAA also feels it is very important that all gasoline station fuel pumps be labeled in a manner that identifies the fuel being pumped as containing ethanol and what percentage blend it is. Therefore, EAA would also recommend a state laws contain a requirement that reads: "Each person shall publicly display and maintain on each pump or other dispensing device from which any gasoline or other product containing more than one per cent by volume of ethanol is sold by such person, signs to inform the public of the amount of ethanol contained in such gasoline or other product."
EAA is asking for your support by contacting:
1. Governor Gregorie http://www.governor.wa.gov/contact/default.htm and ask her to support amending Senate Bill 6508 and House Bill 2738 to support exemptions allowing aviation and recreational uses of gasoline that must remain ethanol free. This action is critical to aviation safety.
2. Your local state Senators http://www.leg.wa.gov/senate/members/default.htm and ask them to support amending Bill 6508 to support exemptions allowing aviation and recreational uses of gasoline that must remain ethanol free. This action is critical to aviation safety.
3. Your local state Representatives http://www1.leg.wa.gov/House/members+by+district.htm and ask them to support amending Bill 2738 to support exemptions allowing aviation and recreational uses of gasoline that must remain ethanol free. This action is critical to aviation safety.
To find more information about how ethanol affects aviation engines; http://www.eaa.org/education/fuel/index.html
Randy
Randy Hansen
EAA Government Relations Director
888-322-4636, extension 6522
Mark your 2006 calendar for the World's Greatest Aviation Celebration ... EAA AirVenture Oshkosh ... Monday, July 24th through Sunday, July 30th. http://www.airventure.org/
