Posted on Fri, May. 02, 2008

As ethanol-blended fuel begins pouring into Florida, the state's gas stations are making a last-ditch effort to ensure that consumers can still buy regular gas.

The state Senate on Thursday approved a measure that would ensure that fuel terminal operators will still supply some unblended gas with an octane rating of 87 for small engines, like those in all-terrain vehicles, jet skis, and generators, as well as boats and older cars whose engines could be damaged by ethanol.

The proposal still must be approved by the House before the session ends Friday at midnight. The measure was introduced a day after the Senate gave final passage to a comprehensive energy bill requiring, among many things, that all fuel sold in Florida contain 10 percent ethanol by the end of 2010.

NO CHOICE

Jim Smith, president of the Florida Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association, which represents more than 5,000 gas stations, said his organization was left with no choice but to push the amendment, which became part of a House pest control bill, after the energy bill was approved Wednesday with no language guaranteeing that at least some ethanol-free gas would be available.

The Orlando market, notably, was to have been completely transitioned to a 10 percent ethanol fuel, known as E10, by Friday because Houston energy company, Kinder Morgan, began supplying only ethanol blends from the region's sole terminal near the Orlando airport.

Joe Hollier, a spokesman for the company, said the company would be able to provide unblended, though on a restricted basis.

''In the Orlando area, . . . members that need conventional gas for marinas have to go to Jacksonville, Tampa or Fort Lauderdale to get that fuel. That adds a tremendous cost for transportation, which the consumer is ultimately going to pay,'' Smith said.

Several oil companies with terminals in the Port Everglades already have retrofitted their facilities to provide the blended fuels exclusively.

David Mica, a lobbyist with the Florida Petroleum Council, said the amendment was potentially catastrophic.''

POTENTIAL PROBLEM

''It really screws up the marketplace for gasoline,'' Mica said, If you run out of the [unblended] fuel, you would be in violation of the law.''

If the amendment fails, South Florida could be an all-E10 market by August. ExxonMobil said most of its stations will start selling only E10 fuels by the end of next week. So will BP. Hess stations changed over several months ago. Shell began in March. Chevron makes the switch July 1.