(October 20, 2010) Omaha - North Dakotan fuel retailers are doing their part to help reduce our country’s dependence on foreign oil. Since May of this year, the North Dakota Corn Growers Association has helped install 60 blender pumps to stations throughout the state, allowing the consumers to have a choice in fuel when filling their tanks.

The North Dakota Corn Growers Association and the North Dakota Department of Commerce are helping their retailers with installation of blender pumps though Blender Pump Programs. Providing retailers with a $2,500 grant per pump from the North Dakota Corn Council in addition to a $5,000 grant from the state for installation, these programs encourage retailers to sell alternative fuels.

“The use of biofuels is growing rapidly in this country, and we are happy to be able to supply these different fuel options to our customers,” said Kent Satrang, CEO of Petro Serve USA.

“The blender pump program has partnered our eastern corn fields with the western oil fields of North Dakota and will be a model for the rest of our nation to become less dependent on foreign oil,” states Tom Lilja, Executive Director of the North Dakota Corn Growers Association.

Blender pumps provide customers a variety of different ethanol fuel blends ranging from unleaded gasoline (no ethanol included) to E85 (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline). The blends in between are typically E20, E30 and E40. Each fuel blend is properly labeled to assure the consumer is aware of which fuel they are putting in their vehicle. There are also warning labels placed on the pump reminding the customer that these mid-level ethanol blends should only be used in flex-fuel vehicles (FFV). To see if your vehicle is flex-fuel capable, check your owner’s manual.

“Showing consumers first-hand the different ethanol-blended fuels available to them is a great way to spread awareness of the alternative fuel we are able to grow right here in our own country,” said American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) Vice President of Market Development, Ron Lamberty.

“Installation of these blender pumps today are helping prepare retailers for the future of increased ethanol blends, such as E15,” said Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) Director of Market Development, Robert White.

The Blend Your Own (BYO) Ethanol Campaign has provided fuel labels to all 60 blender pumps in North Dakota so the retailers are able to properly display which ethanol-fuel blends they are selling and to create consistency in labeling. The BYO Ethanol Campaign is a group made up of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), and numerous state corn grower organizations. The campaign aims to expand blender pump installation by 5,000 pumps over three years. Working with petroleum marketers and retailers, the campaign provides all the necessary information needed to install the pumps and utilize the various incentives available including advice, site assessment, promotion, marketing, and FREE labeling packages.

Contact:

Kristin Brekke
American Coalition for Ethanol
kbrekke@ethanol.org

Robert White
Renwable Fuels Association
rwhite@ethanolrfa.org