Second blender pump opens in Minnesota
October 3, 2007
BY Michael Shirek
Web exclusive posted Oct. 19, 2007, at 9:55 a.m. CDT
Within a few days, Minnesota went from zero ethanol blender pumps to two with openings at Border States Cooperative in Ortonville and Cenex Convenience Store in Belgrade. Both stations opened the pumps after state rules governing the dispensing of ethanol blends changed. The pumps have been in use across the state line in South Dakota since last year. Belgrade's pumps opened Oct. 11.
The ethanol blender pumps allow consumers to choose the ratio of ethanol to gasoline in their fuel, with blends of E10, E20, E30, E50 and E85 available with most blender pumps. Although use of blends higher than E10 is not recommended for non-flexible fuel vehicles, flexible fuel vehicles can run on any combination of ethanol and gasoline and are not restricted to gasoline or E85.
The recent change in state rules that opened the door for blender pumps is the latest move Minnesota has made toward a more renewable energy portfolio. The state already has an E10 mandate and is working to get the U.S. EPA to grant an E20 waiver so that non-flex fuel vehicles can run on 20 percent ethanol blends. That waiver would make it possible for an E20 mandate, which state legislator have discussed.
Within a few days, Minnesota went from zero ethanol blender pumps to two with openings at Border States Cooperative in Ortonville and Cenex Convenience Store in Belgrade. Both stations opened the pumps after state rules governing the dispensing of ethanol blends changed. The pumps have been in use across the state line in South Dakota since last year. Belgrade's pumps opened Oct. 11.
The ethanol blender pumps allow consumers to choose the ratio of ethanol to gasoline in their fuel, with blends of E10, E20, E30, E50 and E85 available with most blender pumps. Although use of blends higher than E10 is not recommended for non-flexible fuel vehicles, flexible fuel vehicles can run on any combination of ethanol and gasoline and are not restricted to gasoline or E85.
The recent change in state rules that opened the door for blender pumps is the latest move Minnesota has made toward a more renewable energy portfolio. The state already has an E10 mandate and is working to get the U.S. EPA to grant an E20 waiver so that non-flex fuel vehicles can run on 20 percent ethanol blends. That waiver would make it possible for an E20 mandate, which state legislator have discussed.
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