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HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. — Ten days after Max Arnold and Sons opened the second commercial E85 pump in the state in Hopkinsville, sales were going “three times better than expected,” said Geraldine Reagan, who manages the Max Fuel Express station.
“This is great news,” Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer said. “I strongly support efforts to turn Kentucky corn into clean, renewable fuels. Not only does E85 provide consumers with a lower-cost alternative to gasoline, it reduces America’s dependence on foreign oil. And more importantly, it provides new markets and new income for Kentucky farmers. It’s a win-win situation for everyone.”
Commissioner Farmer supports the state’s energy plan, which emphasizes a greater use of biofuels such as E85 in Kentucky.
E85, which contains 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, was priced 50 cents lower ($2.26) than regular unleaded gas ($2.76) earlier this month. The price differential attracted attention from passing motorists at the busy corner of Fort Campbell Boulevard and Walnut Street.
“It’s opening some eyes,” said Gerald White of Max Arnold and Sons. “Customers are happy with the price, we’re happy, and so are the corn growers and the ethanol plant.”
Hopkinsville is the home of Commonwealth Agri-Energy, a farmer-owned ethanol production plant that was funded in part with grants from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board. The plant is making a profit after only a year of operation.
White said the better-than-expected sales could lead to the installation of E85 pumps at more Max Fuel stations in western Kentucky. “This is our pilot store,” he said. “We’re tracking it [sales] closely…. If it continues, I’m sure we’ll look at some kind of expansion.”
White spent time at the station the first three days E85 was sold, handing out flyers and educating the public on alternative fuels. He showed motorists how to check their VIN numbers to determine if their vehicles have “flexible fuel” capability and can use E85. “Everybody wants to put it in their car,” White said, “but there’s only a limited amount of flexible fuel vehicles.”
Auto manufacturers have been making flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) since 1998. FFVs have a sticker on the back of the fuel door that reads “E85” or “Ethanol Fuel or Unleaded.” Consumers may visit www.e85fuel.com for a VIN guide, a list of E85-compatible vehicles and more information.
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