SDCUC and EPIC team up to offer blender pump program

Today South Dakota leads the nation in raising public awareness for higher blends of ethanol as the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC) and the South Dakota Corn Utilization Council (SDCUC) collaborate to launch a blender pump program across the state of South Dakota.

“Blender pumps will allow gas stations to sell more blends of ethanol-enriched fuel to consumers driving flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs),” said EPIC Director of Operations, Robert White. “The blender pump program will provide incentives and support to gas station retailers who want the opportunity to offer blender pumps, raise awareness to consumers, and offer flex-fuel vehicle motorists more opportunities at the pump.”

This major initiative will help gas station retailers obtain funding and the equipment needed to sell higher blends of ethanol, which range from E20 (20 percent ethanol and 80 percent unleaded gasoline) to E40 (40 percent ethanol and 60 percent unleaded gasoline) and can only be used in FFVs. One of the main goals is to increase the state’s blender pump infrastructure by installing a minimum of 100 new blender pumps over the next year. There are currently nearly 20 blender pumps in the state. All blender pumps will be branded with the stylized “e” logo and the necessary precautionary pump labels. Preexisting blender pumps will also be allowed to participate in the program.

“This is a monumental day for South Dakota as we link arms with EPIC and our state’s ethanol industry to initiate a far-reaching program to expand higher blends of ethanol through blender pumps. This is just the first step in a program that has the potential to go nationwide as consumers demand greater fueling options at the pump,” said SDCUC President, Reid Jensen. “Encouraging blender pump infrastructure development across the state will strengthen our economy.”

Additional resources will be available to the retailers taking advantage of this blender pump program including a marketing and PR campaign to increase public awareness, and pump promotions at stations housing blender pumps.

To learn more about the blender pump program program click here.

To apply for this program go to www.drivingethanol.org/southdakota or for more information contact the SDCUC office at 605-334-0100.