Service stations in California were to start selling oxygenated gasoline Nov. 1 to meet clean fuel standards of the California Air Resources Board (CARB).
CARB's standards require that each gallon of gasoline contain 6-11 vol % of ethanol or a methanol derived ether such as methyl tertiary butyl ether, a move aimed at cutting tailpipe emissions of carbon monoxide (CO).
The winter standards will be in effect through February in southern California and through January in northern California. Thereafter, state refiners will be required to switch to other gasoline blends to reduce summer ozone levels.
CARB said the added oxygenates could increase gasoline prices by about 3/gal but are expected to cut CO emissions by 1,200 tons/day.
CARB's seasonal oxygenate standards for gasoline will remain in effect until 1996, when more stringent rules take effect that will require year-round use of oxygenates and change eight other gasoline specifications. Earlier this year, ARCO Products Co. estimated the stiffer standards will add about 16/gal to the cost of gasoline statewide (OGJ, Jan. 27, p. 21).
Federal Clean Air Act amendments require motor gasoline sold in 39 CO nonattainment areas to contain at least 2.7 wt % oxygen in the form of blended oxygenates by Nov. 1 (OGJ Oct. 26, Newsletter). To meet that requirement, oxygenated gasoline will have to contain, for example, at least 15 vol % MTBE or 7.4 vol % ethanol (OGJ, Aug. 3, p. 28).
Denver and other Rocky Mountain urban areas have had similar programs in place for several years.
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