Published: August 27, 2008 10:48 am            

Blender pumps could become big for ethanol

Originally published in the August 22, 2008, print edition.

About the only problem with blender pumps is the Environmental Protection Agency, according to the Minnesota Corn Growers Association’s Tim Gerlach.

Blender pumps, which permit the gas purchaser to select 20 percent, 30 percent, 50 percent or 85 percent ethanol at the pump, are slowly nudging their way into Minnesota and other states. Estimates are there may now be at least 20 blender pumps in this state.

The dilemma: The Clean Air Act prohibits retail gasoline stations from selling gasoline blended with more than 10 percent ethanol for use in gasoline-only vehicles. Flex-fuel vehicles, by contrast, can burn any ethanol fuel up to E85, or 85 percent alcohol.

Where blender pumps are operational, the popular choice reportedly is E30. This is likely the choice of many motorists who aren’t yet driving flex-fuel vehicles but appreciate the 20-cent or more price advantage over conventional fuels, which in Minnesota are 10 percent ethanol.

At the MCGA tent at Farmfest, renewable fuels spokesman Tim Gerlach shared thoughts on blender pumps, E85 and the difficulties of changing the mindset of EPA officials charged with enforcing the fuel rules and regulations.

Gerlach said there currently are about 365 E85 pumps in Minnesota with constant inquiries from other stations about adding them. Nationwide there are now over 1,400 E85 pumps with steady growth as more flex-fuel vehicles come into the mainstream.

Strong support in Minnesota

Gerlach, a former spokesman for the American Lung Association of Minnesota, gives big credit to the MCGA for their early and continued strong support of the total ethanol fuels industry. He also thanks the Minnesota Legislature for their early vision in mandating a state 10-percent ethanol fuel program, plus the tax credits for the early financial assistance on farmer-owned new ethanol processing facilities.

“But ALA is still the day-to-day organization that promotes the E85 program as part of its total clean air package for all Americans,” he said.

The Minnesota E85 program rapidly became the model for other states. The ALAs of other states — including North Dakota, South Dakota and Iowa — come to Minnesota to see how it’s done.

Gerlach spoke at a recent ALA meeting in St. Paul attended by ALA staffers from Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, Florida and Georgia. “Essentially I was speaking to the disciples who are now working to implement E85 programs in their various states.” Funds are a limiting factor of the ALA; they depend upon financial support from individuals and organizations such as the MCGA.

“ALA has to write grants and go out securing matching funds whether it be federal, state or other groups. MCGA has been incredibly helpful here in Minnesota,” Gerlach said.

Growth hampered by lack of vision

In view of lack of flex-fuel cars currently in America — only about 7 million — station owners in many areas don’t rush to install E85 pumps. The question then is raised, why doesn’t Congress direct the EPA to loosen regulation enforcement and promote blender pumps where the motorist makes the fuel choice, regardless of the vehicle?

“It’s a frustrating situation,” Gerlach said. Government doesn’t move fast enough, he said, partly because the political leaders of America haven’t been visionary enough. They couldn’t portend the energy crisis, the economic explosion of China and India, and the disruptions of crude oil supplies due to wars, boycotts and devastating hurricanes.

“We simply don’t prepare as we should,” Gerlach said. “We react more to crises rather than plan ahead to prevent crises.”

Stations with blender pumps are required to advise motorists of this requirement; the pumps are labeled as useable only for flex-fuel vehicles. Gerlach cautioned that local stations need to be aware of these EPA regulations or the consequences could be financially disastrous — fines of $20,000 per day for allowing non flex-fuel vehicles to use blender pumps.

“This is difficult,” Gerlach said. “Sometimes one needs to break the rules to get them changed. But at this point in time, blender pumps face this barrier.”

Adding to the frustration is that blended fuel tests with several different makes of cars at Minnesota State University, Mankato, showed that even non-flex-fuel vehicles performed without fault on blends up to E50. The E30 blend, in fact, increased fuel efficiency compared against a conventional fuel.

Chicken and the egg

Detroit automakers say that by 2010, half the cars rolling off their assembly lines will be flex-fuel. But with hybrid cars rapidly working into the mainstream, will Detroit stick with that claim?

A chicken-and-egg conundrum is also at play, with automakers saying more E85 pumps are needed to meet the potential demand, and people like Gerlach saying more flex-fuel vehicles are needed to generate E85 pump demand.

Gerlach said Detroit engineers claim blender pumps complicate fuel calibrations. They don’t want motorists coming back to local dealers with what could be a variety of fuel challenges.

“It’s going to come down to EPA having to make a decision one way or the other,” Gerlach said.

“With blender pumps continuing to spread across the Upper Midwest, I doubt it would be politically expedient in this election year for EPA to ride herd at every station with blender pumps verifying compliance by each motorist.”

        

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