Keys for Optimizing Pump Setup

✓ Presenting E15 to consumers similarly to other grades of fuel is key for success.

✓ The best pump configuration includes offering E15 at most, if not all, of the dispensers under the canopy.

✓ If possible, offer E15 from a shared versus a dedicated hose.

Download our brand guidelines to learn more.

UNL88 Brand Guidelines

We can help navigate the regulatory requirements

Growth Energy has helped more than 3,000 retail sites add higher ethanol blends like E15 and E85 to their product lineup. We have the following tools available to help you, but we will also personally work with you to comply with all federal, state, and local regulations.

Steps for making E15 available

If you are offering E15 you must:

1. File a mis-fueling mitigation plan with the U.S. EPA. However, this is a simple process as you just need to send a letter agreeing to follow the industry mis-fueling plan.  Download the letter templates (shared hose, dedicated hose, and both shared and dedicated hose )
2. Agree to participate in the industry survey program with the RFG Survey Association, including a nominal registration fee – Click Here to learn more.
3. Properly label the fuel using the EPA approved fuel label which can be obtained free of charge from Growth Energy
4. Ensure that all of your product transfer documents contain the correct information regarding volume percentage of ethanol.
5. Also, be sure to check your state and local regulations regarding proper blends of ethanol in your area including checking with your local fire marshal or authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) about your facility’s compatibility with pumping E15.

For specific information about how EPA’s E15 waiver conditions impact your business, please visit EPA’s Web site. To download a summary of the steps required to add E15- Click Here.

Equipment compatibility with E15 and higher blends of ethanol

• E15 is approved for 2001 and newer vehicles, or over 96% of the vehicles on the road today and account for more than 98% of the vehicle miles traveled
• Retailers have completed millions of E15 transactions with no reported fuel-related issues of any kind
• Consumers have driven nearly 75 billion miles on E15

Growth Energy Market Development’s main priority is to grow the market domestically and globally. Our priority on the domestic market front is expanding the E15 marketplace and we work directly with retailers to provide them with expertise to navigate the regulatory landscape. Adopting E15 is oftentimes easier than retailers think, depending on infrastructure already set in place. Many retailers can use their current infrastructure and purchase pre-blended E15, which also reduces the cost immensely for new infrastructure. For a new site builds, retailers have the option to purchase blender pumps and blend E15 through the dispenser on site with E85 and 87.

Considering E15 in Your Product Lineup?

Our team is also always available to help walk you through the process or answer any questions.

• The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) accepts EITHER of the following to show equipment compatibility with E15:
  • UL Listing
  • Manufacturer’s Warranty:
    • Wayne dispensers are all compatible to E15, their newer dispensers (2014) are approved up to E25. More info can be found
    • Gilbarco dispensers since 2008 are all compatible for E15.
    • Since around 1980, petroleum equipment manufacturers have offered compatible for blends above 10% ethanol including: storage tanks, piping, valves, hanging hardware, dispensers, hoses, and nozzles, as the standard equipment for sale. For manufacturer letters about compatibility for ethanol blends above 10% visit the Petroleum Equipment Library here: PEI’s website.
• Nearly all UST made in the last 30 years are approved up to 100% ethanol. Learn more here: Fiberglass Tank & Pipe Institute.
• The majority of current installed tanks can store blends above E10. For many decades, underground storage tank (UST) manufacturers approved their tanks for blends up to E100, for example, all steel tanks in service, regardless of age are approved for storing E15. Also, the majority of double-walled fiberglass tanks installed since the year 1990 are compatible with E15. Manufacturers of pipe thread sealants (pipe dope) used in UST systems have stated that their products have been compatible with ethanol blends up to E20 for many years. Learn more here.
• The Steel Tank Institute confirms that steel tanks are also compatible with 100% ethanol. To learn more, see the Steel Tank institute document that is recognized by regulators as approval for E15 storage here. For a summary of this information click here.

Growth Energy is a one-stop shop for retailers and has a dedicated hub for marketing E15, full with brand guidelines,  compatibility guidelines, and consumer resources.