Missouri Corn Receives Federal Grant To Establish Ethanol Corridors
With the goal of providing drivers with more choices at the pump, the Missouri Corn Merchandising Council (MCMC) has been awarded a $200,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to expand the number of ethanol stations along major thoroughfares in the Show-Me State.
On Wednesday, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu awarded eight grants to five entities nationwide, investing $1.6 million in fueling infrastructure for ethanol blends. Through the Missouri Ethanol Blends Infrastructure Project (MoEBIP), 16 blender pumps (pumps that dispense ethanol blends ranging from 10 to 85 percent, as well as regular gasoline) are to be installed across the state, with the potential to displace an estimated 10.1 to 15.1 million gallons of petroleum.
“There was stiff competition in the Expansion of Ethanol Infrastructure category of this DOE grant,” said Gary Clark, MCMC senior director of market development. “Missouri Corn is honored to have our proposal be one of a handful of entities selected nationwide. We look forward to leading the charge in growing Missouri’s use of renewable fuels.”
The blender pumps will be installed across five major fueling corridors in the state, focusing on regions with large numbers of Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs). FFVs are able to run on regular unleaded gasoline, E85 (blend of 85 percent ethanol, 15 percent gasoline) and any blends in between. With 115 of the state’s 4,200 fueling stations currently offering E85, the project will expand fueling options for FFV drivers along portions of I-70, I-44, I-29, Hwy 40/61 and Hwy 63.
“This project is great for Missourians,” said Clark. “Not only are we supporting a farmer-owned ethanol industry and solidifying an alternative fuel market, we will be providing more choices for consumers and helping reduce our dependence on foreign oil.”
Additional investments will be made by the project’s current partners. In addition to Missouri Corn, participating entities include St. Louis Regional Clean Cities, MFA Oil, Wallis Companies and Warrenton Oil Company.
“It is exciting to envision the new avenues for partnership this award brings,” concludes Clark. “The DOE grant allows us to pull together the state’s ethanol plants, fuel suppliers and retail outlets in one concerted effort with consumers winning in the end.” READ MORE and MORE
