Gasohol Competition Act of 1980, United States
In response to oil companies’ discrimination against the sales of gasohol (a blend of motor gasoline and alcohol—ethanol or methanol—in which 10 percent or more of the product is alcohol) at gas station pumps after the passing of the Energy Tax Act of 1978, US Congress passed the Gasohol Competition Act of 1980 in an attempt to give gasohol producers fair competition in the oil-dominated market. The Act amends the Clayton Act by prohibiting restrictions on the use of credit instruments, or the setting of any condition, restriction, agreement, or understanding that would discriminate against any transaction concerning the sale, resale, or transfer of gasohol or other synthetic motor fuel, but allows such restriction on conventional motor fuels. The Act does not prevent gasohol retailers from labeling pumps indicating that the gasohol or synthetic fuels were manufactured by a third party, nor from issuing liability disclaimers for damage resulting from the use of such fuels. The retailers also had no obligation to advertise the sale of alternative fuels or to add additional pumps to their facilities for their distribution.
Further Reading
- A Bill to Amend the Clayton Act (The Library of Congress)
