RENSSELAER, Ind. – More gasoline containing a higher percentage of ethanol is going to be available to motorists with help from USDA. 

Ceres Solutions, a Midwest provider of fuel and farm products, is putting in new dispensers and blender pumps to deliver higher ethanol blends of gasoline at one of the CountryMark-branded stations it owns in Indiana.

The new fuel dispensers allowing motorists to choose between E10, E15 and E85 are expected to be open at the station on N. McKinley Ave. in Rensselaer in the northwest part of the state by the end of the year.

USDA and CountryMark were awarded separate grants to pay for the infrastructure work estimated at about $111,000.

“As we all look to reduce our environmental footprint, E15 is a transportation fuel we can truly feel good about,” said Jeff Troike, President and CEO of Ceres Solutions Cooperative, a farmer-owned company headquartered in Crawfordsville, Ind.

Another USDA grant was awarded to Harvest Land Co-op for upgrading its fueling station in Greenville, Ohio, to include E15 this winter.

Harvest Land Co-op is based in Richmond, Ind.

The grants were part of the $22 million awarded this year through USDA’s Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program, which is expected to increase ethanol demand by 150 million gallons annually, officials said.

A vast majority of the gasoline consumed by motorists has a 10-percent ethanol blend.

Presently, the U.S. EPA has approved the use of E15 in all 2001 and newer cars, SUV’s and light duty trucks.

E85 is approved by EPA for use in flex fuel vehicles.

Greater use of cleaner burning ethanol and production of more vehicles capable of burning the higher blended fuels is viewed as a way to better compete with vehicles running off electricity.

Matt Smorch, President and CEO of CountryMark, said high octane fuels with help from different avenues is the future of what powers the U.S transportation industry. 

“If we come together now to create higher octane fuels, the American public will get more efficient vehicles in the most cost-effective manner possible. With this move in American energy policy, emission reductions will equal that of putting over 700,000 electric vehicles on the road each year,” Smorch said.

Smorch added “it’s time to capitalize on America’s inherent advantages. Abundant corn production, affordable petroleum products and the innovative minds of our American workforce.”

CountryMark is a farmer-owned oil exploration, production, refining and marketing company headquartered in Indianapolis.

“High octane gasoline is the answer,” said Michael Dora, Indiana’s Director of USDA Rural Development.

“High octane gasoline will provide cleaner energy for American families while supporting our great American farming communities and local American refiners like CountryMark,” Dora said.

David Smith, a spokesman for Ceres Solutions, said it’s his company’s first venture into offering higher ethanol content gasoline and more locations could be added to its regional chain of fueling centers depending on consumer response.

CountryMark and Ceres Solutions are members of South Shore Clean Cities, one of nearly 100 U.S. Department of Energy sponsored not-for-profit organizations.

The coalitions work to advance alternative fuels, alternative fuel vehicles and sustained vehicle technologies to reduce dependence on foreign oil, improve air quality, support local jobs, economic development and quality of life.

Carl Lisek, executive director of South Shore Clean Cities based in northwest Indiana, applauded CountryMark and Ceres Solutions for setting an example in their support for renewable energy. 

“We congratulate them on this accomplishment and encourage others to follow their lead,” he said.

Ceres Solutions also has separate facilities offering products like seed and fertilizer along with agronomy services throughout central Indiana and parts Michigan.