"They really are breaking ground here," IRFA managing director Lucy Norton told the Telegraph Herald about the blender pump. "We would anticipate that now that they have broken ground on this idea that we think it will be safe to say it will get the interest of other retailers as well."
Biodiesel [image-nocss] blender pumps differ from regular gas pumps in that they offer customers more choices in alternative fuels.
At a typical diesel pump, one option exists-regular diesel. Some pumps offer only a biodiesel blend, as well. But at a blender pump, diesel vehicle drivers are looking at a multiproduct dispenser that pours either B2, B5, B10 or B20.
"What this pump does is offer availability to a variety of fuels," Norton said.
The pump looks different from regular gas pumps. More buttons dot the machine, and the buttons should appear in different colors to alert customers that they are purchasing a different fuel mix.
Although this is the first biodiesel blender pump in the state, nine ethanol blender pumps are in use in Iowa. The two machines are similar in the sense that they both offer a wide variety of biofuel blends, but the biodiesel blender pumps differ greatly from the ethanol pumps.
Higher ethanol blends, such as E85, only can be used in flex-fuel vehicles designated for the particular fuel. However, any biodiesel blend can be used in a vehicle designated to use diesel.
"We believe that by installing these blender pumps across the state, more customers are going to turn to biofuels," Norton said.
Meanwhile, the Colorado Corn Growers Association, the Governor's Biofuels Coalition (GBC) and Western Convenience Stores partnered recently to celebrate the opening of a new E85 pump location in Broomfield, Colo. The station sold E85 for 85 cents per gallon during the grand-opening festivities.
"We are glad to partner with the Governor's Biofuels Coalition and Western Convenience, who are working to expand E85 availability throughout the state. Together, we are making a difference for Colorado's air quality and for consumers who support renewable fuel," said Mark Sponsler, CEO of Colorado Corn. "Western Convenience, GBC and auto industry leaders like GM have been outstanding partners in this effort."
This new E85 station brings the total number of E85 locations in Colorado to about 90. Western Convenience has invested in 32 of those locations throughout Colorado. Eighteen stations are reportedly adding the clean, domestically produced fuel soon.
The Colorado Corn Growers Association and GBC have provided funding and support to most of the E85 refueling sites across the state.
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