Kentucky Corn Growers Support Unprecedented National
Campaign to Expand Renewable Fuel Infrastructure
Eastwood, KY
(August 11, 2009) – Consumers can enjoy more choices at the
pump, gas station owners can experience product flexibility,
and the nation can achieve its renewable fuels targets – all
thanks to the blender pump and the wider distribution of E85
and mid-range ethanol blends. An unprecedented new campaign
is underway between leading corn-producing states, the
American Coalition for Ethanol, and the Renewable Fuels
Association, with the goal of installing 5,000 blender pumps
nationwide over the next three years.
The Kentucky
Corn Growers Association (KyCGA) provided funding for
the campaign in order to support expansion of the ethanol
fuel market.
“We have realized the necessity of advancing the corn-based
ethanol industry in our state and the nation for many years,
and participation in the blender-pump program is the logical
next step,” says Philip McCoun, KyCGA president and farmer
from Shelbyville, Ky. “Blender pumps give drivers more
choices at the pump, and when given the choice, we believe
motorists will choose ethanol. In the last year, retail
outlets providing E85 in the state have doubled, so we
believe the momentum is strong for the success of this
program.”
The
“Blend Your Own Ethanol” campaign – or BYOethanol
(pronounced “bio”) – will offer a single source of ethanol
information and technical expertise for petroleum marketers
looking to upgrade equipment or begin offering more choices
to their customers. By serving as a central clearinghouse
for renewable fuels infrastructure incentives, the
“BYOethanol” campaign will bring blender pumps to key areas
of the country, and from there they will spread as
neighboring gas stations see the benefit and want to remain
competitive.
Blender pumps are not new to the fuel industry, but are now
finding new use with ethanol and E85. A blender pump
features two underground tanks, typically one with unleaded
and one with E85, and the dispenser blends the appropriate
percentages of the two fuels to create any blend of ethanol
from zero to 85 percent. Gas station owners benefit from
product flexibility and by being ready for future renewable
fuel blend levels, and consumers benefit by having new
choices at the pump like E20 or E30 for their flexible fuel
vehicles.
“This campaign will be successful because it works directly
with petroleum marketers, not paying them to put in a
blender pump, but explaining to them why it’s a good
business decision, how it will benefit the station, and
helping them access the state and federal incentives that
exist,” said Ron Lamberty, Vice President / Market
Development of the American Coalition for Ethanol. “If we
present petroleum marketers with the facts about why this is
a good business decision – and it is a good business
decision – they will consider adding blender pumps to their
stations. Now our job is to get this information out to as
many of them as possible, and we’ve already begun doing
that.”
Along with the Kentucky Corn Growers Association, several
other leading corn-producing states are participating in
this program: the Kansas Corn Commission, the Missouri Corn
Merchandising Council, the Nebraska Corn Board, and the
South Dakota Corn Utilization Council. The National Corn
Growers Association has provided support as well, and
additional state organizations are on the verge of joining
this effort.
“Blender pumps are the best way to expand the reach of
renewable fuels, and it’s time for a national campaign to
get this infrastructure in the ground and get consumers the
choices they deserve,” said Robert White, Director of Market
Development for the Renewable Fuels Association. “No matter
where their station is located, retailers will have a wide
variety of options to increase their profit margin while
lowering the cost for consumers. We are grateful to be
working with the corn grower organizations and the American
Coalition for Ethanol.”
The “BYOethanol” campaign will function as an expanded
market development program of the two ethanol groups and
will serve as the only one-stop source for all the
technical, regulatory, safety, and environmental information
petroleum marketers need about retailing ethanol blends. The
program will feature extensive work at petroleum marketer
events and a Web presence designed specifically for station
owners to easily get the information they want.
The nearly 200 blender pump locations in the U.S. today can
be seen on this map:
www.tinyurl.com/ACEblenderpumpmap.
The
Kentucky Corn
Growers Association is a member of the KCFC.
