Ethanol Fuel Comes to Virginia

Underground and Aboveground Storage Tank Owners and Operators:

In 2006 many reformulated gasoline (RFG) marketers in Virginia began supplying gasoline containing 10% ethanol (E10) to replace the use of oxygenates such as methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MtBE). If you are preparing to store ethanol for the first time, the conversion may pose potential problems for your storage tank systems and customers’ vehicles.  You should contact your fuel supplier to obtain suggestions on how to prepare your tank systems.

Any ethanol blended fuel or (E10) will necessitate use of different fuel (dispenser) filters and require you to be diligent about preventing any water in your tanks. The ethanol will add necessary octane to the fuel, but any water in the tank may mix with the ethanol and lower the octane or make vehicles run unacceptably.

The following websites contain additional information regarding the phase-in of ethanol blended fuels:

Virginia Petroleum, Convenience and Grocery Association (VPCGA) - MtBE Phase-out Memorandum (2006)

VPCGA - Tank Cleaning Companies (2006 list)

Keeping Water Out of Your Storage System (STI 2006 Paper)