Colorado Corn

Colorado's first ever ethanol blender pump dispensed 512 gallons of fuel April 8 during its inaugural day of operation at the Stratton Equity Coop in Burlington. That may not sound like much, yet ethanol production and consumption overall is driving America’s rural economy.

Rick Palkowitsh, who chairs Colorado Corn’s Market Development Action Team, said there could not be a better way to “promote our industry – the corn industry - than using our own product.” Palkowitsh grows corn on his farm near Burlington.

Blender pumps allow customers to choose from a number of preset combinations of ethanol mixed with unleaded gasoline. For example, E85 is a blend of 85 percent ethanol processed from corn, and 15 percent gasoline refined from crude oil. E20, E40, and E85 blends of ethanol will be offered at the Burlington pump.

Palkowitsh expressed thanks to everyone who worked together to put the state’s first blender pump in Burlington. He said the pump will “give the consumers a choice as to what type of fuel and what type of blend they would like to run in their vehicle,” providing they drive a Flex Fuel Vehicle.

During a grand opening event for the pump, Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture John Stulp said the annual U.S. consumption of nearly 10 billion gallons of ethanol has reduced crude oil needs by seven percent. He said home-grown ethanol has a positive impact on America’s economy while reducing the need for U.S. troops to defend the nation’s oil import supplies.

Dan Slinger, general manager of Stratton Equity Co-op, is excited to have the first blender pump in Burlington. Many of the co-op’s members grow corn. “We’re marketing about three million bushels of our members’ corn that’s going into ethanol production,” said Slinger.

Steve Scott said ethanol has energized the corn business by raising prices above the cost of production while also adding 250,000 jobs nationwide. The construction and operation of ethanol production plants has brought new economic activity to many rural communities.

The Burlington pump is under a pilot program that should lead to more blender pumps statewide. Colorado Corn is working with state officials and others to find locations for nine additional blender pumps.

Currently, blends higher than E10 can only be used in Flex Fuel vehicles. These vehicles can use blends up to and including E85. More than 100 pumps that dispense E85 only are in operation statewide.