A recent report from the Iowa Department of Revenue shows E15 sales in Iowa reached new levels in 2021.
The 2021 Retailers Fuel Gallons Annual report highlighted all-time record E15 sales in Iowa, totaling nearly 87 million gallons. This broke the previous record by 43.4%.
Vinton farmer Lance Lillibridge serves as president of the Iowa Corn Growers Association. He recently told IARN that drivers are looking for more affordable fuel, which has led to a growth in demand and use of E15.
?With the energy situation we have right now, biofuels is the answer,? Lillibridge said. ?Biofuels can lessen the price at the pump, and we can decarbonize with biofuels. We have the opportunity to cut our carbon footprint by 40% in Iowa alone by using biofuels and using carbon capture technology at our ethanol plants. That?s a big deal. We really need to get on board with that. It will be good for the Iowa farmer, the American farmer, and it will be good for every single American.?
The report also showed that of the 1,645 Iowa retail locations, 95 percent reported selling at least one type of ethanol blend. Of those 1,571 stations offering ethanol blended fuels, 304 sold E15 and 286 reported selling E85.
National Corn Growers Association President Chris Edgington, a farmer from St. Ansgar, talks about how the E15 fuel blend is marketed by fuel retailers.
?It depends on the station because Unleaded 88 is E15 in most locations,? Edgington told IARN at Commodity Classic. ?The stores try different marketing approaches. Some are using 87, 88, 89, 90 and that approach. Others are saying this is E10, E15, E20, E30, E40 and so on. There?s a little bit of differences by station. If you grab that handle that has just about the cheapest fuel, you are going to be okay.?
Additionally, Iowa fuel retailers sold a record amount of E100 through higher blends at the pump in 2021. Combined sales of E15, E85 and mid-level ethanol blended fuel in 2021 added up to 28.4 million gallons, a 26 percent increase over previous records.
