VINTON, Iowa – As the nation’s top biofuels producer, Iowa’s E15 sales hit record high levels in 2021, totaling nearly 87 million gallons, a 43 percent increase over the previous record established in 2020, according to the Iowa Revenue Department’s 2021 Retailers Fuel Gallons Annual Report.

“The growth in demand and use of E15 in Iowa is exciting, especially as we are working on the (Iowa) Biofuels Access Bill to expand the availability of E15 across the state,” said Lance Lillibridge, Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) president, and a Vinton farmer.

“Drivers are looking for more affordable fuel, and E15 and higher blends were not only the answer in 2021, but continue to be the solution for savings at the pump today,” he added.

Released April 5, the report said Iowa fuel retailers sold a record amount of E100 through higher blends at the pump in 2021. Combined sales of E15, E85 and mid-level ethanol blended fuel in 2021 added up to 28.4 million gallons, a 26 percent increase over previous records.

The report also showed that of the 1,645 Iowa retail locations, 95 percent reported selling at least one type of ethanol blend. Of those 1,571 stations offering ethanol blended fuels, 304 sold E15, and 286 reported selling E85.

Grant Menke, ICGA director of market development, said the highlight of the 2021 retailers report was the continued strong growth in Iowa E15 sales.

“For Iowa farmers, record E15 sales mean more corn demand and increased consumer choice for lower cost, lower carbon, homegrown biofuel,” he said.

He said 86.9 million gallons of E15 sold in 2021 utilized more than 4.5 million bushels of Iowa corn, and provided average savings at the pump of 10 cents per gallon or more.

“Simply put, every 100 million gallons of E15 growth equates to 5 million bushels of additional corn grind,” he said. “Given that Iowa’s overall gasoline demand is approximately 1.5 billion gallons per year, there is still plenty of room for growth.”

He added that 86.9 million gallons of E15 shows great progress, but with the recently announced emergency waiver for summertime E15 sales and the passage of Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ Iowa Biofuels Access Bill, “the momentum for E15 growth in Iowa is just getting started.”

Passed April 26 by the Iowa Senate and House, the bill was signed by Reynolds April 27, making Iowa the first state in the nation to require that gas stations have pumps selling fuel with at least 15 percent ethanol.

The bill, which passed 42-3 in the Senate and 81-13 in the House, will award up to $5 million a year to grants to help gas station owners upgrade equipment to handle E15, the Associated Press reported.

The bill will also increase consumer choice at the pump by making E15 an option at many fuel stations across Iowa, with an increase in funding for the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program to $10 million per year for retailers.

“The (Iowa) Biofuels Access Bill is a key piece of ethanol legislation to keep Iowa as the leader of not only corn and ethanol production, but also in access to cleaner-burning, more affordable, homegrown ethanol,” Lillibridge said.

He said the bill is a top priority for the ICGA because it expands the availability of E15 to consumers, saving them an average of 10 cents per gallon; provides additional funding for retailers in the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program; and creates additional markets for Iowa corn farmers.

“The Iowa Biofuels Access Bill is consumer-friendly, and will benefit all Iowans,” he said. “E15 is the cleanest, most affordable fuel available for all 2001 and newer vehicles, and that is especially important during this time of high gas prices,” he said.