E15 is being sold to consumers across Iowa who drive vehicles newer than 2001, again. The ethanol blend, that was still sold to flex-fuel vehicle drivers during the summer months, is not allowed to be sold in the state June 1-September 15, an issue that the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) has been working to eliminate.
“E15 is the lowest-cost fuel for the vast majority of Iowans on the road today, and we’re excited 2001 and newer vehicle owners across the state can once again reap the benefits of E15,” said IRFA Managing Director Lucy Norton. “With millions of miles already driven on E15, Iowa motorists can choose E15 with confidence, knowing it’s a safe, economical fueling option that provides nearly identical fuel economy to E10.”
The label on an E15 pump at a Kum & Go retail station in Des Moines, IA when only FFVs drivers can legally fill up their tanks with E15 during the summer months. Photo: Joanna Schroeder
The halt of sales is due to a quirk in federal regulation. The EPA has yet to equalize the vapor pressure regulations for E10 and E15 during the summer driving season, from June 1 through September 15. As a result, the sale of E15 in Iowa is restricted to flex-fuel vehicles only during that timeframe. To re-introduce E15 into the marketplace in Iowa, the IRFA is kicking-off a consumer education campaign to inform motorists of the benefits of E15.
“There’s loads of interest in E15 among Iowa drivers, and quite a bit of misinformation out there, so we’re doing our part to educate motorists on the benefits of this more American-made fuel,” Norton added. “IRFA staff and ethanol supporters will be at many Iowa E15 stations over the next few weeks, talking with drivers about cleaner-burning E15, while many stations offer special E15 discounts.”
IRFA’s E15 consumer education program starts September 18, 2015 with events at Murphy USA in Indianola, Iowa and Good & Quick in Nevada, Iowa. Murphy USA, located at 1502 N. Jefferson St. in Indianola, Iowa, will offer E15 to 2001 and newer vehicles at a 75-cent per gallon discount to 87-octane E10 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Good & Quick, located at 519 Lincoln Highway in Nevada, Iowa, will offer registered E15 for a 15-cent per gallon discount from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Additionally, Cenex Ampride in Eagle Grove and Fort Dodge, Iowa, will host consumer education events on September 22. Supplementary consumer education events will be announced in the near future.