Gilbarco Veeder-Root and Dresser Wayne, two fuel dispenser companies, received official Underwriter's Laboratory certification for company-specific E85 fuel dispensers in June. These were the first UL-approved fuel dispensers for E85, following UL approval of E25 fuel dispensers this spring.

For E25 and lower blends, fuel dispensers can be certified separately from the hanging hardware. However, for E85, UL has withheld certification of any fuel dispensing equipment until it is all certified together at one time, said John Drengenberg, director of consumer safety for UL. The organization granted final certification to the two fuel dispensers only after the final components of the hanging hardware were submitted, he said. By late July, Gilbarco Veeder-Root had UL-approval for a total of 22 dispenser configurations and all of Dresser Wayne's eco fuel products received approval. OPW Fueling Components also announced that it received UL certification for its new trademarked nozzles, ethanol swivels, breakaways and emergency shut-off valves for use in applications containing ethanol concentrations up to E85.

The next anticipated step is UL certification of a blender pump. Dengenberg said he couldn't give out specifics but confirmed that a UL testing program of blender pumps has been established. Meanwhile, retailers continue to install blender pumps in locations across the nation. In late July the American Coalition for Ethanol recognized the first blender pump installed in Grand Forks, N.D. Brian Jennings, ACE executive vice president, and ACE founder Merle Anderson, Climax, Minn., congratulated Valley Dairy owner Monica Musich at a brief event July 20.