KCFC - E85 / Ethanol Information

Ethanol Blends

Ethanol is a renewable fuel made from various plant materials, which collectively are called "biomass." Ethanol contains the same alcohol chemical compound found in alcoholic beverages. Nearly half of U.S. gasoline contains ethanol in a low-level blend to oxygenate the fuel and reduce air pollution. Ethanol is also increasingly available in E85, an alternative fuel that can be used in flexible fuel vehicles. Studies have estimated that ethanol and other biofuels could replace 30% or more of U.S. gasoline demand by 2030.

Ethanol use, production and infrastructure has grown by leaps and bounds in Kentucky over the past decade, due in part to the dedication of the KCFC and its ethanol-supporting members.

Most all of Kentucky's retail gasoline contains 10% ethanol. Several stations across the Commonwealth are selling E85. Click on the map below for locations.

Alltech, 500.000 gals a year
Alltech is a global animal health and nutrition company and is expanding its fuel ethanol production with the addition of new processing equipment in Springfield KY. The facility in Springfield will be able to process spent brewer's yeast from regional breweries into fuel grade ethanol and a dried yeast product. The brewery yeast will contain between 5-9% alcohol by volume which will be removed and distilled into fuel grade ethanol. The remaining slurry of yeast will then be dried and used as a nutritional supplement in animal feeds. The facility, has been operational since July 1st, 2012 and is able to produce approximately 500,000 gallons of ethanol a year.

Thornton's installs more E85 dispensers in Kentucky
Partnerships with Kentucky Corn Growers & Growth Energy make it happen

With financial assistance from the Kentucky Corn Growers Association and Growth Energy, an ethanol support organization, Thornton's has installed several E85 dispenser sites in Louisville, Lexington and northern Kentucky, and another planned for Henderson.

Thornton's Chief Executive Officer, Matt Thornton, said. “We are very excited about the expansion of E85 fuel in our stores. We support the use of ethanol, wherever it is economically available.”

Thornton’s reported that they sell, on average, between 3,000 and 5,000 gallons of E85 per month at their dispenser sites, and demand shifts based on price. When the price spread between E85 and regular unleaded gasoline is greater, more people will fuel up on the E85.

The Kentucky Corn Growers Association hopes the increased opportunity to fuel up with E85 will aid in promoting the benefits of the clean-burning, domestic fuel.

I-75 Green Corridor Project - www.CleanFuelsCorridor.com

Latest News

11.21.12 - Ethanol producers applaud RFS waiver decision, stay vigilant

New E85 Site Opens in Calvert City

06.02.2012 - Max Arnold and Sons, a long-time retailer of E85 (85% ethanol blend for flex-fuel vehicles) recently installed another dispenser at its Max Fuel Express location, 3494 US HWY 62, in Calvert City. A portion of the funds for installation were provided by the Kentucky Corn Growers Association Ethanol Dispenser Incentive Fund. Flex-fuel vehicles drivers have more options than ever to fuel up throughout Kentucky. See a map of all locations.