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Iowa Retailers Value Fuel Choice as State Adds Two Stations in Less than One Week

JOHNSTON, IA – The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) today announced that Fast Stop in Cresco, Iowa is now offering E15 as a registered fuel, joining Kountry Korner in Baxter to be the second station to offer the fuel to 2001 and newer vehicles in less than a week. Iowa now has four retail locations offering E15 as a registered fuel, including the state’s first two stations: Linn Coop Oil in Marion and Fredericksburg Coop in Fredericksburg.

“Consumers need more renewable fuel choices to support our communities and keep dollars in our local economies,” said owner and investor Dave Sovereign of Cresco. “Since flex-fuels were not available in Cresco, a group of local business leaders formed an LLC, purchased land and constructed a fueling location to remedy this situation. Also, with unblended 87 octane gasoline no longer being shipped through the pipeline this fall, ethanol blended fuels will dominate Iowa’s fuel market and we wanted to be on the cutting edge with E15.”

“Cresco motorists can now take advantage of this less-expensive fuel produced in Iowa,” said IRFA Managing Director Lucy Norton. “E15 is a cleaner burning, high octane fuel that the people in Cresco can really benefit from. The IRFA expects more stations in the state to offer the fuel in the near future.”

Fast Stop is located in Northeast Iowa at 22268 Highway 9 West in Cresco. E15, a blend of gasoline and 15 percent ethanol, can be used by all 2001 and newer passenger vehicles, which account for 85 percent of fuel use in the United States.  In order to offer E15, a retailer must register with the EPA.  IRFA assists retailers in the registration process to ensure they comply with all federal and state E15 regulations.

Iowa is the leader in renewable fuels production.  Iowa has 41 ethanol refineries capable of producing over 3.7 billion gallons annually, with one wet mill and two cellulosic ethanol facilities currently under construction. In addition, Iowa has 12 biodiesel facilities with the capacity to produce nearly 315 million gallons annually.

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association was formed in 2002 to represent the state’s liquid renewable fuels industry. The trade group fosters the development and growth of the renewable fuels industry in Iowa through education, promotion, legislation and infrastructure development.