FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The first two fueling sites to offer E15 in Florida opened this week, with promises of more to come.
Mid-State Energy Inc., Lake Wales, Fla., began selling the gasoline-ethanol blend at its Easy Stop CITGO in Sarasota and a Marathon branded station in Fort Myers. The multi-branded retailer, which owns stores throughout Florida and a fuel distribution business, partnered with ethanol services provider Protec Fuel to launch E15, which it calls "88 Gasoline."
The two Mid-State sites also sell E85 and B20 biodiesel.
At a grand opening this week, Mid-State sold E15 and E85 at big discounts, gave away concert tickets and ran in-store promotions.
"We are extremely excited to be the first in Florida to offer this additional grade of alternative fuel, and offer our customers more choices as it comes to fueling," said Ken Allen, president of Mid-State Energy.
Protec Fuel, Boca Raton, Fla., helped manage the installation of the ethanol blends.
"We are proud to help introduce American-made ethanol into the fuel pool through E15 in Florida," said Steve Walk, vice president of business development, "especially as it's a higher-performance fuel at 88-octane."
And Steven Reich, coordinator for The Tampa Bay Clean Cities Coalition, which is part of a network of local coalitions charged by the U.S. Department of Energy with reducing petroleum usage, also praised the new biofuel choice.
"These fuels can provide a renewable and cleaner fuel option for us now with virtually no additional investment in vehicle modification or infrastructure," he said. "I hope that more retailers will take advantage of the availability of these fuels in their product mix."
The Sarasota and Fort Myers sites are said to be among the first in a multi-state push by Protec Fuel to open dozens of E15 and E85 stations by mid-2015, in partnership with retailers in metropolitan markets throughout the South and Southeast.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved E15 for 2001 and newer gasoline engines, although industry groups have challenged the approval, citing possible engine-damage issues and the risk of misfueling.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.