Vinton station dispensing E15 through new pump

When it comes to buying E15 fuel for non-flex fuel vehicles, Iowans should get used to setups like the new one at Fast Stop in Vinton.

Opening new blender pumps on Oct. 16, Fast Stop became the first retailer in Iowa to add E15 since the United States EPA's ruling Oct. 13 that retailers can begin selling the 15 percent ethanol blend for model year 2007 and newer vehicles.

Before Fast Stop added an E15 blender pump s with a E15 setting, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association could point to only one other Iowa retailer – Popkes Car Care in Rock Rapids – that had E15 one available. The E15 setting had been programmed in to the blender pump at Popkes Car Care when it was originally installed two years ago for use in Flex Fuel vehicles

Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Managing Director Lucy Norton says blender pumps are “the most logical and simplest way to transition over to E15.” Retailers without blender pumps would typically have to add an underground tank or switch over an existing tank to E15.

Petroleum Marketers of Iowa Executive Director Dawn Carlson says few retailers are likely to take that step at this point, because E15 can only be sold for vehicles 2007 or newer and the retailers could face hefty fines if they accidentally sold E15 for a vehicle older than 2007.

Blender pumps combine the ethanol and regular gas within the pump, making installation of more underground tanks unnecessary. Retailers with blender pumps are typically more prepared to advise motorists on fuel selection. About 30 blender pumps are already operating at retailers in Iowa, according to Norton. More blender pumps are on the way with the help of a state incentive program that helps retailers pay the cost of converting to blender pumps.

Hardly any blender pumps in service now were set up to dispense E15, according to Steve Kleespies, product manager at Westmor Industries, a Morris, Minn., company that sells petroleum-handling equipment including blender pumps. Kleespies said converting existing pumps to handle E15 involves a relatively simple programming change that is not expensive.

Westmor Industries isn't expecting a big push in demand to reprogram pumps for E15 for a year or so, Kleespies said. That's about how long it will take for the EPA to issue labeling language for pumps, which will reduce the liability faced by retailers for improper dispensing of E15. Kleespies said E15 also could get a boost later this year if the EPA issues a waiver to allow sales for older vehicles as old as 2001 models. Vinton Fast Stop Manager Vicky Miller says the Fast Stop staff has spent a fair amount of effort educatng the public on how to operate operating a blender pump since it opened last Saturday.

The Fast Stop's blender pump has a yellow hose for the more exotic fuels – E15, E30 and E85, and a black hose for the more traditional E10 blends, one with 87 octane and one with 89 octane.

Customers only have to pick the right hose and punch a button indicating the blend they want.

“It's fairly easy,” Miller says.

Today (10/21/10) could be the most exciting day of work at Fast Stop since Miller was hired on 15 years ago. Iowa's renewable fuel associations are joining Fast Stop for a grand opening event that will include 85-cent-per-gallon E85 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and full service fueling from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. With a radio station promoting the event, Miller said she's expecting a good turnout.

Fast Stop is owned by Growmark, the big regional agricultural and fuels cooperative.

Norton says the cooperatives in Iowa “have been the early adopters” in Iowa for blender pump technology that allowed Flex Fuel vehicle owners to buy the higher ethanol blends such as E85 and E50, in part due to strong support from their members for Ethanol.