Blended fuel gaining in popularity throughout ND
Ethanol fuel blends increased by 133 percent in North Dakota last year, thanks in part to new blender pumps installed in communities around the state, according to the North Dakota Department of Commerce.
The blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, called E85, is currently selling for $2.70 per gallon at Dakota Plains in Lidgerwood. The gas station has been offering the blend since last March. Stations in Fairmount and Wyndmere also installed these pumps in 2010.
Although Weldon Hoesl, general manager, could not pinpoint how much E85 usage has increased this year - the crude oil market drives the price of ethanol, and usage usually follows, he said - he has noticed more of an interest in blends for older vehicles that can't use the fuel.
"People just driving their regular vehicles can use the 20-30 (percent ethanol) without any loss of gas mileage, and the extra ethanol prevents gas line freezing so they don't have to put in a little jug of antifreeze," he said. "Plus, the price is cheaper on a 20 percent blend."
However, Hoesl said one of the best things about E85 is that it offers the public a choice.
"They can choose what they want to burn and what works best for them," he said. "We're supporting ourselves by using the ethanol product that not only helps our farmers, but it uses less gasoline - when you get E85, we're not dependent on our oil fields to support us."
Some of the major companies don't promote ethanol usage because they have no viable interest in the commodity markets that support our farmers, he added.
The Biofuels Blender Pump program has installed roughly 117 new blender pumps in 27 communities. The program provided retailers with a $5,000 tax incentive toward installing the pump and the North Dakota Corn Council gave an additional $2,500 per pump.
