SSB 3187

BACKGROUND —— GENERAL.1). BACKGROUND —— TERMINOLOGY. §7661) administered by the United States environmental protection agency (EPA). _____ and designated as E-xx where “xx” stands in for the volume percent of ethanol.1). Generally, the use of E-15 during summer months is allowed only by waiver issued by the EPA. BACKGROUND —— E-15 ACCESS STANDARD. Beginning July 1, 2023, a retail dealer is required to comply with an E-15 access standard that requires a retail dealer to advertise for sale and sell E-15 from a minimum number of qualifying gasoline dispensers, commonly described as pumps, located at the retail dealer’s retail site (Code chapter 214A, subchapter III). There are two access standards. In order to comply with the general E-15 access standard, the retail dealer must dispense E-15 from one qualifying gasoline dispenser if there is only one such dispenser located at the retail site or from at least percent of all qualifying dispensers if there is more than one such dispenser located at the retail site. In order to comply with the alternative E-15 access standard, the retail dealer cannot install, replace, or convert a gasoline storage tank at the retail site on or after July 1, 2023, and the retail dealer must advertise for sale and sell E-15 from at least one qualifying dispenser on and after January 1, 2026., by installing a new tank), the retail dealer must comply with the general E-15 access standard.36). BACKGROUND —— INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM FOR RETAIL MOTOR FUEL SITES.14). Thus, the financing program could be used to upgrade infrastructure that had been used to store and dispense E-0 or E-10. However, the new infrastructure must have the capacity of storing and dispensing either E-85 only or a variety of classifications ranging from E-15 to E-85 as part of a blender pump system. BACKGROUND —— NEW INSTALLATION OF GASOLINE INFRASTRUCTURE. Generally, the department of natural resources regulates infrastructure used to store motor fuel stored in underground tanks, including ethanol blended gasoline, located at a retail site.32). BILL’S PROVISIONS —— INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM FOR RETAIL MOTOR FUEL SITES. The bill provides a transition period for infrastructure supported by an award of cost-share moneys under the financing program. Until July 1, 2025, the new infrastructure must be compatible with E-15; from July 1, 2025, until July 1, 2030, the new infrastructure must be compatible with ethanol blended gasoline classified as E-40; and on and after July 1, 2030, the new infrastructure must be compatible with E-85. The bill’s provisions do not affect decisions regarding financing by the RFIB made prior to the bill’s effective date. BILL’S PROVISIONS —— NEW INSTALLATION OF GASOLINE INFRASTRUCTURE. The same transition period applies to a retail dealer when installing, replacing, or converting a certain section of the infrastructure that had been used to dispense E-15. _____ extending from the shear valve through to the dispenser breakaway. Until July 1, 2025, the infrastructure section must be compatible with E-15; from July 1, 2025, until July 1, 2030, the section of the infrastructure must be compatible with ethanol blended gasoline classified as E-40; and on and after July 1, 2030, the section of the infrastructure must be compatible with E-85, meaning compatibility throughout the entire system. BILL’S PROVISIONS —— EFFECTIVE DATE. The bill takes effect upon enactment.