The Wisconsin Bio Industry Alliance (WBIA) hosted a media event today to discuss the importance of increasing the number of blender pumps in Wisconsin. Working in partnership with representatives from the Renewable Fuels Association, the American Coalition for Ethanol, Growth Energy, the Wisconsin Corn Growers Association and the American Lung Association, Wisconsin’s bio fuel producers are drawing attention to the benefits of increased ethanol use in Wisconsin.
While there are more than 100 locations across the state where consumers can purchase gasoline blended with up to 85 percent ethanol, there are fewer than 30 locations across Wisconsin where consumers have the choice to purchase fuel blended with different levels of ethanol. Blender pumps allow consumers to determine what percentage of gasoline and ethanol they would like to purchase for their vehicle. When visiting the fueling station, consumers are able to select a variety of fuels, including E10, E20, or E85.
“Consumers should be given a choice. Whether you want a gasoline blended with 10 percent ethanol for your boat or small engine, or you chose to purchase ethanol blended with 20 percent or 85 percent ethanol for your flex fuel vehicle, blender pumps give you those options,” said Joshua Morby, Executive Director of the WBIA. “We’re working closely with our partners nationally to increase the number of blender pumps not only in Wisconsin but throughout the United States.”
“What we’re talking about here is the science of how ethanol affects our carbon footprint,” Franken said. “The science to me tells me it helps. I’ve looked at this a lot, and it seems to me that ethanol already helps our carbon footprint and it’s only getting more efficient in the way it’s produced. Corn ethanol is a step on the way to cellulosic ethanol, which is also going to benefit Minnesota. I’m in the pro-ethanol camp.”
Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) expressed concerns about the extension during his 
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Biodiesel plant-building company SRS Engineering Corporation will put up a 10 million-gallon-a-year biodiesel plant in Alberta, Canada for ReNvision Biofuels Inc.
Following up on its promise of putting 15,000 alternative-fuel vehicles on the road in the next decade (see my post from 
After a successful test earlier this year (see 
A ethanol blender pump fuel promotion was held last week at 1201 6th Street in Manning, IA that sold the domestically made fuel at a substantial discount. E20 sold for 20 cents off regular pricing, E30 was sold for 30 cents off, E50 sold for 50 cents off, and E85 sold for 85 cents off or $1.05. 
“We were very happy to assist in making the Aspinwall Co-Op Pump Promotion and Grand Opening in Manning a huge success. Growth Energy is dedicated to expanding the market and educating consumers and this is another great example of that. By giving consumers more choices at the pump with clean, green homegrown ethanol, we’re not only helping decrease our dependence on foreign oil, but also boosting our local economy,” noted Nicole Oliver, Communications specialist for Growth Energy.
USDA grains analyst Jerry Norton says the number was much higher than the trade was expecting. “It’s a big number,” Norton says, especially considering the planting delays in Illinois and Indiana due to wet weather. But, that caused higher prices through May and into early June, “So, even though it was getting late to plant corn it was a strong incentive to plant for producers who could still get it into the ground.”