Search Federal and State Laws and Incentives

Biofuel Quality Inspection and Testing

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture may inspect and test biofuels under the Kerosene and Motor Fuels Quality Inspection Act of 1989. (Reference Tennessee Code 47-18-1306 and 54-1-136)

Biodiesel and Ethanol Definitions and Retail Requirements

Commercial biodiesel stock used for biodiesel blends must be at least 99% biodiesel (no more than 1% diesel fuel) and meet ASTM specification D6751. Biodiesel blends must meet ASTM specification D975. Biodiesel blends made available for public use at retail locations may not exceed 20% biodiesel (B20), and biodiesel blends containing more than 5% biodiesel (B5) must be labeled as a biodiesel blend at the pump.

Ethanol is defined as nominally anhydrous ethyl alcohol that meets ASTM specification D4806. Ethanol blends made available for public use at a retail location must be labeled accordingly (e.g., E85).

(Reference Rules of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture 0080-05-12-.01 to 0080-05-12-.03)

Supply of Petroleum Products for Blending with Biofuels

Petroleum product refiners and suppliers must make all grades of gasoline and diesel fuel available to any wholesaler in a condition that allows for the fuel to be blended with ethanol or other bio-based products and sold in Tennessee. In addition, gasoline products must be available with detergent additives in sufficient concentrations such that after the addition of ethanol, the final product meets or exceeds the lowest additive concentrations that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires. (Reference Tennessee Code 47-25-2003)

Ethanol Blend Specifications

Ethanol-blended gasoline sold in the state must meet ASTM specification D4814, with the following exceptions:

• The maximum vapor pressure of ethanol blends containing 1% or more ethanol for volatility Classes A, B, C, and D may not exceed the ASTM D4814 limit by more than 1.0 pound per square inch (psi) from September 16 through May 31;
• The maximum vapor pressure of ethanol blends containing 1% or more ethanol for volatility Class E may not exceed the ASTM D4814 limit by more than 0.5 psi from September 16 through May 31; and
• The maximum vapor pressure of ethanol blends containing 9% to 10% ethanol may not exceed the ASTM D4814 limit by more than 1.0 psi from June 1 through September 15.