LAWRENCE — The head of the national Renewable Fuels Association has filed a protest with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and federal regulators concerning Conoco Phillips’ treatment of Zarco 66 stations in Kansas. Zarco has a convenience store in Ottawa. The oil company is forcing Zarco owner Scott Zaremba to buy unwanted premium gasoline so he doesn’t have tank space to store ethanol at his stations, Bob Dinneen, Renewable Fuels Association CEO said. Without the tank space, Dinneen said Zarco can’t sell E-15 and E-85 ethanol fuel, which have 15 percent and 85 percent ethanol blends.. Few motorists need or want the more expensive premium gasoline so the ploy is strictly to prevent the sale of E-15 and E-85, he said. Most gas blends already have 10 percent ethanol. “Like a childe who breaks all of his pencils and then tells his parents he can’t do his homework, the oil industry should not be permitted to claim the RFS is not achievable when it is deliberately taking steps to stifle the introduction of E-15,” Dinneen said. He’s asking federal regulators to investigate and take action to end the practice.
Monday, April 29, 5 p.m.
