I posted this in this section so folks in other states can get some ideas. This problem may come your way soon.
HB2210 requires all gasoline sold in Oregon to contain 10% ethanol. Here is what I remember from today's meeting in Salem with state officials and special interest groups (aviation, biofuels, petroleum):
1. The lawyer from the attorney general's office gave a stronger, more favorable interpretation of the law, adding that the ASTM standard referred to in HB2210 describes gas for cars. That was in addition to her previous opinion based on the fact the bill didn't specifically mention aircraft where it defined motor vehicles. The rules proposed for adoption now say that gas at an airport intended only for aircraft use is exempt from the ethanol requirement. This includes mogas sold at an airport for aircraft use.
2. Representatives of the biofuel industry who were present kept their mouths shut and did not object to the interpretation.
Dan Clem, head of the Aviation Department, and others talked some more about what they learned since the last meeting:
* Western Petroleum, which supplies avgas to Oregon is not interested in supplying mogas--liability concerns.
* Cost of installing a skid mounted tank starts at about $15,000. $70,000 was the previously quoted figure, but that was a larger installation and based on the cost of the tank just installed at Mulino.
* FBO's like to go thru their gas inventory in 2 months or less.
* Aviation Department is surveying FBO's to assess their interest in carrying mogas.
* 30 airports in Oregon are licensed to sell avgas.
* Premium often now has ethanol as the octane booster, so in some areas about 40% of the premium has ethanol even where it is not mandated. Refineries are going to a system where they refine gas to an 80 octane standard, then add substances to meet specific requirements. Because ethanol is relatively cheap right now, octane is sometimes enhanced with ethanol.
*Exempting premium may not be the answer long term if ethanol becomes the preferred octane booster.
* If you need mogas right now, go across the Columbia if you can't get it locally. Washington has yet to implement their ethanol law.
*Because of the phase in of ethanol and because the stuff is used as an octane booster, be sure to test all your mogas before using it.
* Mogas, if & when it becomes available at airports in Oregon, won't be widely available soon. They will need to work out business arrangements with new suppliers since Western Petroleum isn't interested in the market, arrange financing, install tanks etc. and that is after they become convinced the market is large enough.
Our challenge right now is to convince FBO's to carry mogas. About 1/3 of the GA aircraft in Oregon can now use mogas, either because they have STC's, are experimental, have Rotax engines or are ultralights. FBO's saw no market in the past because you could just buy it at your local gas station. Now, you can't.
My suggestion: If you fly a plane that can use mogas, whenever you land at an airport that sells gas, ask if they have mogas. If not, go elsewhere, don't buy his 100LL. You want to create a market.
Richard Scott
EAA Chapter 902
HB2210 requires all gasoline sold in Oregon to contain 10% ethanol. Here is what I remember from today's meeting in Salem with state officials and special interest groups (aviation, biofuels, petroleum):
1. The lawyer from the attorney general's office gave a stronger, more favorable interpretation of the law, adding that the ASTM standard referred to in HB2210 describes gas for cars. That was in addition to her previous opinion based on the fact the bill didn't specifically mention aircraft where it defined motor vehicles. The rules proposed for adoption now say that gas at an airport intended only for aircraft use is exempt from the ethanol requirement. This includes mogas sold at an airport for aircraft use.
2. Representatives of the biofuel industry who were present kept their mouths shut and did not object to the interpretation.
Dan Clem, head of the Aviation Department, and others talked some more about what they learned since the last meeting:
* Western Petroleum, which supplies avgas to Oregon is not interested in supplying mogas--liability concerns.
* Cost of installing a skid mounted tank starts at about $15,000. $70,000 was the previously quoted figure, but that was a larger installation and based on the cost of the tank just installed at Mulino.
* FBO's like to go thru their gas inventory in 2 months or less.
* Aviation Department is surveying FBO's to assess their interest in carrying mogas.
* 30 airports in Oregon are licensed to sell avgas.
* Premium often now has ethanol as the octane booster, so in some areas about 40% of the premium has ethanol even where it is not mandated. Refineries are going to a system where they refine gas to an 80 octane standard, then add substances to meet specific requirements. Because ethanol is relatively cheap right now, octane is sometimes enhanced with ethanol.
*Exempting premium may not be the answer long term if ethanol becomes the preferred octane booster.
* If you need mogas right now, go across the Columbia if you can't get it locally. Washington has yet to implement their ethanol law.
*Because of the phase in of ethanol and because the stuff is used as an octane booster, be sure to test all your mogas before using it.
* Mogas, if & when it becomes available at airports in Oregon, won't be widely available soon. They will need to work out business arrangements with new suppliers since Western Petroleum isn't interested in the market, arrange financing, install tanks etc. and that is after they become convinced the market is large enough.
Our challenge right now is to convince FBO's to carry mogas. About 1/3 of the GA aircraft in Oregon can now use mogas, either because they have STC's, are experimental, have Rotax engines or are ultralights. FBO's saw no market in the past because you could just buy it at your local gas station. Now, you can't.
My suggestion: If you fly a plane that can use mogas, whenever you land at an airport that sells gas, ask if they have mogas. If not, go elsewhere, don't buy his 100LL. You want to create a market.
Richard Scott
EAA Chapter 902
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