More corn needed for additional E85 production

By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas Edition

Curtis Donaldson (left), president of CleanFUEL USA, and David Gibson, executive director of Texas Corn Producers Board, helped celebrate the opening of Texas’ first public E85 pump in San Antonio. � Courtesy photo

Jan. 19, 2006 - If there was a larger supply of corn available, more motorists would be able to purchase the E85 ethanol fuel at stations, according to David Gibson, executive director of the Corn Producers Association of Texas.

Speaking from his headquarters in Lubbock, Gibson said the first station in Texas to offer E85 ethanol fuel to the general public was opened in San Antonio (Bexar County) in mid-October 2005. The station was funded by CleanFUEL USA, the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition, Bexar County, and the U.S. Department of Energy.

According to Gibson, plans are in the works for public E85 stations in the Austin and Dallas areas, among others.

Ethanol is a biodegradable fuel additive produced from corn. E85 is an alternative fuel produced by blending 15 percent gasoline and 85 percent ethanol, hence the “E85” name.

On average, Texas growers produce 180 million bushels of corn annually, according to the state’s corn growers association. Producers do not receive more for their corn that goes into ethanol production, but it “helps strengthen the overall market by increasing the usage of corn that’s produced,”added Holly Hunter, spokesperson for Corn Producers Association of Texas.

Gibson said the demand for the new type of fuel is great, but the production of corn just can’t keep up. 

Other demands for corn, such as grain and silage, keep the supply earmarked. According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. producers harvested over 11 billion bushels of corn-grain last year.

Gibson cited that 20 percent of all corn grown, last year, went into the production of the ethanol fuel.

��A bushel of corn produces 2.8 gallons of the ethanol,� he explained.

�One acre of corn can produce 300 gallons of ethanol � enough to fuel four cars for one year with a 10 percent ethanol-blend, according to the Iowa Corn website.

In Iowa and other states with large corn production, ethanol fuel stations have been available for several years.

�� Ethanol promoters call it a clean-burning fuel that helps farmers in the nation�s Corn Belt while reducing greenhouse emissions and shifting the nation�s dependence on foreign oil,� cited a recent Associated Press story.

Reports are that for every 37 gallons of E85 used, one barrel of oil could be eliminated from demand, which would reduce the United States’ dependence on petroleum and out-of-country oil.

For several years, California drivers have been using a blend of fuel that consists of 10 to 15 percent ethanol and 85 to 90 percent gasoline.

Bexar County has a fleet of alternative fuel vehicles that use biodiesel and E85.

Prior to October 2005, E85 fuel was not available to the general public anywhere in Texas. The new station in San Antonio is “unmanned,” so customers must register their cars by calling 877-234-1722, ext. 8374, or 512-942-8374. Customer are issued a special card to use at the station.

A 1988 law allowed for car makers to receive credits for building vehicles that can run on alternative fuel, but little was noted, until recently, in areas outside of the Corn Belt areas.

Gibson said that he expects a “domino effect” with the stations in Texas, and … especially … in urban areas where traffic is more dense. Along with the reduction in dependence on petroleum, use of the E85 ethanol fuel is said to increase the horsepower for better engine performance, and lessens engine wear.

For car owners who are not sure if their cars are equip to use the E85 fuel, they should check their owner’s manual or go to www.e85fuel.com.