JOHNSTON, Iowa --Murphy USA Inc. has begun selling E15 and E85 at its site in Indianola, Iowa, according to The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA). This will be the first of seven Murphy USA sites in the state to offer the ethanol blends, with additional locations in Clinton, Davenport, Fort Dodge, Mason City, Newton and Sioux City set to introduce them by summer's end.
The Indianola Murphy USA site is the second of the chain's 1,200 stations in 23 states to offer E15 and the third to sell E85. The Iowa sites will also offer three grades of E10. The first Murphy USA site to sell E15 opened in 2013 near the company's headquarters in El Dorado, Ark.
Iowa has the greatest number of E15 fueling locations in the country, with nearly 30 located around the state.
"There is strong collaboration in Iowa for servicing the E15 market, making it an ideal place to offer E15 at multiple locations," said IRFA managing director Lucy Norton. "When the conversion is complete, motorists in seven large Iowa cities will have easy access to lower-cost, more locally produced ethanol blends."
Following EPA regulations for seasonal fuel blends that prohibits E15's sale to conventional vehicles between June 1 and Sept. 15, only flex-fuel vehicles will be able to buy the blend at the Murphy USA site. In mid-September, the retailer will offer E15 as a registered fuel to all 2001 and newer vehicles. Murphy USA's Clinton, Davenport, Fort Dodge, Mason City and Sioux City locations will also sell biodiesel.
In other company news, Murphy USA held grand opening for gas stations in Guthrie, Okla., on June 17 and Breaux Bridge, La., on June 27.
Murphy Oil Corp. spun off Murphy USA in Aug. 2013. Murphy USA is focused primarily on the marketing of retail fuel products and convenience merchandise. It operates through a chain of approximately 1,190 retail fuel stations in 23 southern and Midwestern states. It owns the majority of the sites, and most are adjacent to Walmart stores. The business also includes midstream assets including product distribution terminals and pipeline positions.