Garnett Fuel Retailer to Celebrate New Ethanol Fuel Choices at Event Thursday

Sandra’s Quick Stop will celebrate new fuel choices for drivers from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m Thursday, Nov. 10 in Garnett. The Quick Stop, located at the junction of Highway 169 and Highway 59, added blender pumps that offer higher blends of ethanol fuels to motorists.

Governor Sam Brownback will speak at Thursday’s event in Garnett. The grant program that provided assistance to add the pumps is administered by the Kansas Department of Agriculture. Several Kansas groups that support ethanol provided matching funds for the USDA Biofuels Infrastructure program through the Kansas Better Blends Initiative, providing $2.3 million in grant resources to Kansas fuel retailers who add ethanol blender pumps. The Kansas Corn Commission is implementing the program.

“This is about increasing the motorists’ choices when they fill up,” according to store owner Sandra Zook. “If you want to use regular unleaded or premium fuel, that’s great, but now you have access to E15 if you have a vehicle 2001 or newer, and E30 and E85 if you have a flex fuel vehicle.”

Staff from EKAE, Kansas Corn and the Renewable Fuels Association will be at the event to answer questions about E15 fuel that is approved for all vehicles 2001 and newer, and the higher blends, E30 and E85 that can be used in flexible fuel vehicles. Fuel discounts will be offered from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the event. Motorists will get 15 cents off E15 fuel; 30 cents off E30 fuel, and E85 fuel will be sold for 85 cents per gallon.

“With E15, you’re getting a higher octane fuel for a lower cost,” EKAE President and CEO Jeff Oestman said. “Ethanol is a homegrown fuel that helps our local economies and reduces our reliance on foreign oil, which is important to a veteran like me.”

The blender pumps give customers more options, and regular and premium unleaded fuels are still available. Nearly all unleaded fuel contains 10 percent ethanol. E15 is 15 percent ethanol; E30 is 30 percent and E85 is 85 percent.

“This blender pump grant program is intended to add ethanol choices at high-volume fuel stations like Sandra’s,” Kansas Corn CEO Greg Krissek said. “Our program is expanding the availability of ethanol blender pumps. We’ve also added three stations in Wichita, and more stations are in the works.”

The Thursday event will also feature a free lunch, Kansas Lottery promotion and gift cards for veterans. The Renewable Fuels Association and EKAE are sponsoring the fuel discounts and gift card for veterans.

The blender pump project is funded by the USDA Biofuels Infrastructure Grant and the Kansas Better Blends Initiative (KBBI). KBBI Partners: Kansas Department of Agriculture; Kansas Corn Commission; Renew Kansas; Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission; United Sorghum Checkoff Program and  ICM, Inc.