Source: Illinois Farm Bureau
Major automakers have pledged to roll out more ethanol-friendly “flex-fuel” vehicles (FFVs), while federal officials are considering boosting allowable ethanol gasoline blends.
At the same time, the market and policy implications of the Gulf oil spill have added a key element of uncertainty to near-term petroleum price projections. In Jon England’s view, it’s a good time for greater fuel flexibility.
England is partner in EK Petroleum, a Moultrie County business that’s retooled an abandoned service station with Illinois’ first “blender pumps.” England will join Friday with the Illinois Corn Growers Association, state officials, and lawmakers to dedicate two retail pumps that enable motorists to “dial up” a variety of ethanol blends.
Each two-sided pump offers both regular unleaded gas blended with 10 percent ethanol (which can be used in any vehicle) plus a flex-fuel option that dispenses E85, E50, or E30 for E85-capable FFVs by blending “straight” unleaded with E85 from a second tank. The Sullivan pumps are the first of a projected 20 installations to be funded across the state.
The improvement was made possible through a $20,000 American Lung Association grant funded by the Illinois Corn Marketing Board and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Given the roughly $45,000 cost of two pumps, the grant was a key motivator for England.
“Most stations, there’s just one spot where you can get E85,” England told FarmWeek. “At our pumps, you can get any product on either side at any time. In essence, I could have four vehicles filling up with E85 at the same time.
