MISSOURI WELCOMES FIRST ETHANOL BLENDER PUMPS

(JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.)—Missouri welcomed its first ethanol blender pumps last week, as Warrenton Oil Company unveiled four new pumps at its FastLane station located in Moscow Mills. Presenting drivers with additional options when it comes to filling up, each blender pump offers three blends of ethanol as well as two grades of conventional gasoline.

“By partnering with Missouri Corn and the Missouri Department of Agriculture, we are offering our consumers more choices at the pump,” said Dave Baker, Warrenton Oil Company vice president of sales. “We look forward to growing this new market that supports a homegrown fuel and Missouri jobs.”

Located off Highway 61 at 240 College Campus Drive in Moscow Mills, Mo., the blender pumps at this FastLane location allow drivers to fill up with E20 (20 percent ethanol, 80 percent gasoline), E30 (30 percent ethanol, 70 percent gasoline), E85 (85 percent ethanol, 15 percent gasoline), 87 octane gasoline or 91 octane gasoline.

These blender pumps are part of a pilot program with the Missouri Department of Agriculture Division of Weights and Measures. Each blender pump pulls from two underground tanks, one with unleaded and one with denatured ethanol. A dispenser then blends the appropriate percentages of the two fuels to create any fuel blend of ethanol from 20 to 85 percent. Although all gas-powered engines can utilize E10, (10 percent ethanol, 90 percent gasoline), ethanol blends higher than 10 percent are currently approved for use in Flex Fuel vehicles only.

“This is a great opportunity to utilize a product grown and refined in Missouri,” said Gary Clark, Missouri Corn Merchandising Council senior director of market development. “We are looking forward to the continued expansion of blender pump locations across the state. This will allow Missourians to experience the benefits of mid-level ethanol blends and support a product that is helping reduce our dependence on foreign oil.”

There are currently over 100 blender pumps operating nationwide. To learn more about ethanol, and Missouri’s six farmer-owned ethanol plants, visit www.mocorn.org.
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