ETHANOL BLENDER PUMPS OFFER CONSUMERS FLEXIBILITY AND PRICE ADVANTAGE

May 21, 2010  |  Today's News |  ICMB |  Ethanol |  Public Outreach

Sullivan, Ill. – Flex Fuel Vehicle (FFV) owners in Central Illinois now have the opportunity to “fill’er up” by personalizing their ethanol-blended fuel to the level that gives them the best price and efficiency advantage.

The E-K Petro Mart in Sullivan, owned by Jon England, is home to downstate’s 1st ethanol blender pump, and also the first fueling station to be awarded a grant funded in part by the Illinois Corn Marketing Board through a unique private-public partnership. Blender pumps offer customers several choices of higher ethanol blends for use in their FFV.

“We’re excited to see this blender pump in Sullivan,” said Jim Rapp, Illinois Corn Marketing Board Chairman and a corn farmer from Princeton, IL. “Consumers deserve a choice and the opportunity to choose the fuel that best fits their needs and their pocketbook.”

“Ethanol is an environmentally friendly fuel that is completely renewable and produced domestically. Ethanol is significantly cheaper than gasoline and in these tight economic times, every little bit helps,” Rapp added.

The higher ethanol blends available at this blender pump in Sullivan are only appropriate for FFVs. At this location, E30, E50, and E85 will be available. Currently, there are a wide variety of car manufacturers that make FFVs including Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler. In addition to being renewable, higher blends of ethanol are cleaner burning, help reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and help create jobs right here in Illinois.

E-K Petro Mart owner Jon England will be presented a $20,000 grant for participating in the Blender Pump Incentive Pilot Program. The program aims to install 20 such pumps around Illinois. The grant program is supported by the Illinois Corn Marketing Board, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and the American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest.

If you would like more information on higher blends of ethanol or would like to see if your vehicle is an FFV, please visit www.cleanairchoice.org.