CHESTERFIELD, MISSOURI, US — The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is working with Wayne Fueling Systems to produce and sell fuel pumps certified to deliver fuel containing up to 25% ethanol. 

Thanks to this key partnership, the NCGA has supported the sale of more than 50,000 new fuel pumps across the United States, building out the infrastructure needed to support future mid-level blends of ethanol.

“This lays the groundwork for growing ethanol demand and moving the industry forward,” said Jim Bauman, vice president of market development at the NCGA. “Corn farmers’ support of NCGA’s multi-year fuel pump infrastructure program supports the introduction of higher octane fuels delivered by low-carbon, affordable, corn-based ethanol.”

The NCGA also recently partnered with the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), assisting fuel retailers in applying for the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP). The $100 million program included $86 million to expand the availability of higher blends of ethanol, like E15 and E85.

 Corn farmer support for this program helped deliver program awareness and technical assistance for applications representing more than 1,100 fuel dispensers across 21 states and 222 locations. Combined, these locations sell more than 250 million gallons of gasoline annually.

“All of these initiatives complement each other and help us build future demand for ethanol and corn farmers,” Bauman said. “Long term, if the US were to move to a higher octane, mid-level blend of ethanol, it could equate to 5 billion gallons of new ethanol demand, or 1.8 billion bushels of corn annually.”