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$950,000 Available for Blender Pump Installation

Tuesday, December 20, 2011
PIERRE, S.D. – Gov. Dennis Daugaard says $950,000 in grants will be made available through the Governor’s Office of Economic Development to help pay for the installation of blender pumps and associated infrastructure at retail gas stations in South Dakota.

 

South Dakota produces about one billion gallons of ethanol a year, and blender pumps allow motorists to select their desired blends of gasoline and ethanol.
The new fuel dispensers, also known as flex pumps, will help promote value-added agriculture in South Dakota, Gov. Daugaard said.

“Ethanol production is a very effective way to increase the value of our agriculture base,” the Governor said. “By making more ethanol blends available, we are improving producer opportunities, creating jobs, and stabilizing our domestic fuel supplies.”

South Dakota was the first state in the nation to allow ethanol blender pumps. More than 100 pumps currently help support South Dakota’s 15 ethanol plants and nearly 900 South Dakotans directly employed by the industry.

“Ethanol use is a very simple and real way South Dakotans can decrease their dependence on foreign oil and promote a homegrown pr oduct,” said Dana Siefkes-Lewis, president of South Dakota Ethanol Producers Association. “Through this grant program, we hope more gas stations make ethanol blends available to South Dakota consumers, in turn supporting South Dakota’s economy and those employed by the ethanol industry.”

Grant awards up to $25,000 are available for installation of a station’s first blender pump. Grant awards up to $10,000 are available for installation of each additional pump. The majority of the grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis; the final 20 percent will be awarded competitively.

“This program is a great way to assist marketers in installing the additional equipment required to sell high blends of ethanol above E10 for use in flex-fuel vehicles,” said Dawna Leitzke of South Dakota Petroleum and Propane Marketers Association. “These grants will help marketers who wish to diversify their products.”

GOED, in conjunction with South Dakota Ethanol Producers, the American Coalition for Ethanol, Growth Energy, South Dakota Petroleum and Propane Marketers Association, and the South Dakota Association of Cooperatives will hold informative meetings about the blender pump grant program in January. Meeting times and locations will be announced at a later date.

GOED will begin accepting grant applications on Jan. 9, 2012. For an application and complete program guidelines, visit www.sdreadytowork.com
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