JOHNSTON, IOWA ? Renewable fuels are more accessible than ever in Eastern Iowa. Three stations in Davenport and Conesville recently added E15 to their selection of fuels.
Gas Depot and GD Xpress in Davenport have both long offered E10 but with the replacement of E0 with E15, the stations now exclusively offer renewable fuels. GD Xpress also offers diesel blended with 20 percent biodiesel. Gas Depot is located at 3108 W. Central Park Ave. and GD Xpress can be found at 4607 N. Pine St.
?We sell renewable fuels because they are much better than other fuels,? said Jasveer Saini, owner of Gas Depot and GD Xpress. ?The main difference is that renewable fuels are lower priced which draws more customers to the locations.?
Bell?s Fast Fuel in Conesville, located at 303 Burlington Street, is the town?s first station to offer E15 and biodiesel.
?Our family has been in the agribusiness field for a number of years and building this station is an extension of that business which helps support the local ag community,? said Brad Bell, owner of Bell?s Fast Fuel. ?There was a void of renewable fuels in this area and now residents have cleaner fuel choices available.?
Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Executive Director Monte Shaw said it is encouraging to see so many retailers adopting E15.
?This time last year Iowa had less than a third of the 124 E15 stations we have today,? Shaw said. ?Fuel retailers are responding to consumer demand for these affordable, superior fuels.?
Bell?s Fast Fuel received a cost-share grant from the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (RFIP) to help upgrade their fueling infrastructure. RFIP grants can cover up to $50,000 in installation costs per project, with a five-year commitment to sell E15, E85 or biodiesel blends. Retailers interested in learning more about the program can click here.
E15 is a fuel made of 15 percent ethanol and 85 percent petroleum and is approved for all 2001 and newer vehicles. To find an E15 station near you, click here.
