Ethanol Blog

CHS Expands E15 Availability Through More Fuel Terminals

Todd Neeley
By  Todd Neeley , DTN Staff Reporter
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The largest farmers cooperative in the country announced it expanding E15 availability at 10 terminals across the country.

CHS Inc. announced on Monday it will expand access to E15 at 10 additional fuel terminals starting in the next couple of weeks, the company said in a news release.

CHS plans to offer E15 at Nustar terminals in North Platte, Nebraska; Geneva, Nebraska; Council Bluffs, Iowa; Milford, Iowa; Rock Rapids, Iowa; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Yankton, South Dakota; Wolsey, South Dakota; Salina, Kansas; and Concordia, Kansas.

CHS has offered E15 through its McFarland, Wisconsin, terminal since January 2021.

"As the nation's leading farmer-owned cooperative, expanding options for ethanol blended fuel is important for our Cenex brand retailers and our farmer-owners," Akhtar Hussain, director of refined fuels marketing, CHS said in a news release.

"CHS has always been committed to offering ethanol blended flexible fuels throughout its network of 1,450 Cenex brand retail facilities. Expanding access of Cenex brand E15 at these select terminals further demonstrates that commitment."

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To make E15 more accessible, the company said it removed barriers for its Cenex brand retail locations by establishing an EPA-approved misfueling mitigation plan and E15 as a qualifying fuel. CHS also owns two ethanol plants in Rochelle and Annawan, Illinois.

"CHS is the only refiner that has an EPA-approved misfueling mitigation plan covering an entire retail network," Hussain said in a statement.

"This partnership with Nustar allows us to offer higher ethanol blends in a broader geography across the Cenex retail network."

Currently, E15 is labeled as Unleaded 88 and is a 15% blend of ethanol and 85% gasoline.

E10 continues to represent 97% of the gasoline sold in the United States.

Unleaded 88 has been approved by the EPA for use in all 2001 and newer cars, trucks and sport-utility vehicles. According to EPA, more than 90% of gasoline sold is burned in model year 2001 and newer vehicles.

The Trump administration granted E15 a Reid vapor pressure waiver, to allow the fuel to be sold all year across the country.

Auto manufacturers approve the use of Unleaded 88. According to the Renewable Fuels Association more than 93% of model year 2019 vehicles have been approved for the use of Unleaded 88 by auto manufacturers.

General Motors recommends use of Unleaded 88 beginning with its 2012 model year vehicles and Ford for its 2013 and newer vehicles. Unleaded 88 also is approved for use by Volkswagen, Audi, Toyota, Land Rover, Porsche, Jaguar, Honda, Subaru, and certain models of Mercedes-Benz and Lexus.

Todd Neeley can be reached at todd.neeley@dtn.com

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TOM PYFFEROEN
3/29/2021 | 12:40 PM CDT
I found it interesting CHS is based in Inver Grove Heights, Mn. but none of the E-15 fuel blending facilities are in Mn. CHS fuel retailing is not very prominent in our area of South East MN.