New labels will soon start showing up on gas pumps across the state, pointing out a new gasoline blend being dispensed which contains up to 15 percent ethanol.

The aim is to get more renewable fuels into the system, says Minnesota Farmers Union president Doug Peterson, and with only a 10 percent blend, they've hit a wall. He says the increase is needed to meet the renewable-fuels mandate.

"That would allow 36 billion gallons of ethanol to be produced in this country and consumed by American consumers, on an effort to have more renewable fuels and move toward an independent fuel supply from our own country."

The label means the Environmental Protection Agency has tested the higher ethanol blend in cars and found no mechanical problems, Peterson says, although he notes that the new labels look like precautionary stickers, warning that the blend is not approved for use in older vehicles.

"And it may cause damage. We've kind of disproved most of those claims, but the 'big oil' seems to have won out on that; they want nothing to do with renewable fuels."

About 90 percent of all gasoline sold in the nation contains a 10 percent ethanol blend. E-15 should enter the marketplace later this year. It is not recommended for use in vehicles older than the 2001 model year, or in motorcycles, watercraft and gasoline-powered equipment such as lawn mowers and chainsaws.