Chuck Grassley: “So the CEOs of the major integrated oil companies testified under oath before the Judiciary Committee stating their…”

“So the CEOs of the major integrated oil companies testified under oath before the Judiciary Committee stating their willingness to allow independent stations to offer E85. But the Wall Street Journal told a much different story. It highlighted tactics used by the big oil companies to block alternative fuel. The obstacles included contracts restricting the purchase by the station owners of alternative fuel. They also required the installation of completely separate pumps, sometimes far away from the main canopy, and in many cases station owners are prohibited from advertising the product or even posting the price of that fuel, E85. British Petroleum goes so far as to prohibit station owners from placing signs that include E85 on gasoline dispensers, perimeter signs, or light poles. These tactics don't sound consistent with a company--meaning British Petroleum--with a marketing slogan ``beyond petroleum.'' The big oil companies on many occasions cited ``customer confusion'' as the rationale for their policies or that they don't want to ``deceive their customers'' about the product. I happen to believe that it has more to do with limiting the availability of a product that they don't control and the sale of alternative fuels much more than it is customer deception.”