Brief Description: Regarding allowable fuel blends.

Sponsors: By House Committee on Technology, Energy & Communications (originally sponsored by Representatives Eddy and Crouse).

House Committee on Technology, Energy & Communications
Senate Committee on Water, Energy & Telecommunications

Background:

Methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) is a chemical compound primarily used as a gasoline additive. It is one of a group of chemicals commonly known as "oxygenates" because the chemicals raise the oxygen content of gasoline. At room temperature, MTBE is a volatile, flammable, and colorless liquid that dissolves rather easily in water.

In 2002 legislation was enacted regulating the use of MTBE in gasoline. The law has two parts: (1) it bans the intentional addition of MTBE to gasoline, motor fuel, or clean fuel for use in Washington; and (2) it bans knowingly mixing MTBE in gasoline above 0.6 percent by volume.

Summary:

The threshold for the ban on knowingly mixing MTBE in gasoline is reduced from 0.6 percent by volume to 0.15 percent by volume of MTBE.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   96   0
Senate   46   0

Effective: July 22, 2007