Pearson Fuels recently announced the opening of its 450th E85 ethanol station in California, marking another major milestone in the company’s ongoing effort to make cleaner, more affordable fuel accessible statewide. The Kansas Corn Commission works with corn checkoffs in Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa to help Pearson Fuels build infrastructure to offer the E85 (up to 85 percent ethanol blend) in California.

“The Kansas Corn Commission is part of a coalition that supports the efforts of Pearson Fuels to build ethanol demand, and it is paying off for Kansas corn and ethanol producers,” Kansas Corn CEO Josh Roe said. “Over a third of Kansas ethanol is sold to California. One Pearson Fuels station that we have visited sells 90,000 gallons of E85 per month—that’s over a million gallons of ethanol per year—equal to 2,900 acres of Kansas corn production. That station is one of 450 that are creating significant demand for corn and ethanol.”

The Kansas Corn Commission’s support of the California project is growing demand for Kansas corn and ethanol.

“Our top priority is market development for our corn crop,” said Kansas Corn Commissioner Dennis McNinch, who represents the west-central district. “Kansas already sends more than a third of the ethanol we produce to California. This steady increase in ethanol demand in the California market has a direct impact on our Kansas farmers and ethanol producers.”

The 450th site, located in Fresno, represents another step toward increasing access to renewable, low-carbon E85 for California drivers.

“When we set our sights on expanding E85 across California, we didn’t expect to reach this point so quickly,” said Doug Vind, managing member of Pearson Fuels. “Hitting 450 stations is a testament to how rapidly drivers have embraced a lower-carbon, cost-saving, higher-octane alternative to gasoline. At our current pace of opening more than 60 new stations per year, we fully expect to see the 500th E85 station opening in Q3 of next year.”

A cleaner future

E85, a blend of up to 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline, offers drivers significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions – up to 80% when paired with renewable components – while helping keep prices stable at the pump.

Pearson Fuels continues to replace the gasoline portion of E85 with renewable naphtha, a byproduct of renewable diesel and renewable jet fuel, thereby creating an innovative, fully domestically produced renewable fuel. This next-generation blend helps reduce harmful emissions while maintaining the high-octane performance and reliability flex fuel drivers expect.

Expanding access, lowering costs

Across California, Pearson Fuels’ growing network ensures that drivers are never far from a station offering cleaner, domestically produced fuel. The expansion comes at a time when California drivers are increasingly turning to alternatives that cut both emissions and costs.

“Every new location means more Californians can take part in the state’s transition to cleaner transportation,” said Greg Jones, director of business development at Pearson Fuels. “We’re seeing drivers choose E85 not just because it’s better for the

environment, but because it’s consistently more affordable than gasoline—often by $1.50 or more per gallon.”

Founded in San Diego, Pearson Fuels is California’s leading distributor of E85 flex fuel. With a mission to make clean, renewable fuels accessible to everyone, Pearson Fuels partners with retail stations statewide to deliver high-quality, low-carbon E85 that helps drivers save money and reduce their environmental impact. Learn more and find E85 near you by downloading the Pearson Fuels App or visiting www.PearsonFuels.com.