Some consumers worry that the ethanol added to gasoline negatively affects engine performance and gas mileage. Ethanol has been added to gasoline since the 1970s to cut pollution and dependence on fossil fuels. The ethanol industry claims ethanol is better for engines, but skeptics prefer to find gas stations that sell ethanol-free gasoline. States set requirements regarding the labeling of ethanol in gasoline.
State laws differ on what information must be posted on the gas pump. In 2010, certain states, such as the District of Columbia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina and Ohio, do not require ethanol percentages to be posted on gas pumps. Because it is not possible in these states to find out if the gas dispensed at the pump has ethanol added, it is necessary to turn to other sources of information. Talk with the people who work at the local gas station to find out about their ethanol practices. Websites such as puregas.org keep an updated list of gas stations in each state that sell ethanol-free gasoline.
Many states require some posting of ethanol percentages on gas pumps, including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, and many others. The amount of ethanol added to the gasoline generally dictates whether gas pumps are labeled in these states. In such states, it's necessary to check with alternative sources to make sure ethanol has not been added to the gasoline at certain stations. If a small percent of ethanol is not a problem, then that information can be found at the pumps.
Certain states, such as California, Alaska, Maine, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, always label the ethanol in the gasoline at the pump. This makes it easy to identify which stations do not use ethanol in their gasoline. A trip to the gas station will tell consumers everything they need to know. If you're looking for ethanol-free gasoline, though, websites that list the gas statons that don't have ethanol in their gasoline can be a helpful alternative to driving around hoping to find one.
