Rep. Wismer Supports E30 Ethanol Blend for State Vehicle Fleet

Press Release

If elected Governor of South Dakota, Rep. Susan Wismer would support moving the state vehicle fleet, including standard autos, to ethanol's high octane premium blend, or E30.

"Our family farmers and ranchers have always been a vital part of the South Dakota economy. It is good for the South Dakotan economy to dispel the myths that surround the use of E30 in standard autos. Big oil companies have cost the South Dakota economy hundreds of millions of dollars by perpetuating the myth that E30 will damage standard auto engines. That is simply not true," said Rep. Wismer.

Mechanics and auto instructors, including those at Lake Area Technical Institute, remark that flex fuel and standard auto engines are the same. The computer programming that must happen to accommodate the higher fuel flow for E85 is not needed when using E30.

"Nearly 8 years ago, my local co-op installed the nation's first E85 blender pump. My uncle, Owen Jones, was one of the biggest advocates for that installation. In Britton, we quickly learned that E30 worked great in our standard vehicles. Today, when filling up with E30, we save about $5 per tank of gas, and the difference in gas mileage between E15 and E30 is unnoticeable," said Rep. Wismer.

South Dakota markets more than a billion gallons of ethanol annually, and local producers would benefit greatly if more drivers were encouraged to use E30. The benefits to the South Dakota environment are important too. Using a higher ethanol blend reduces the dangerous benzene emissions associated with using gasoline. It is good business to support ethanol, and as governor, Rep. Susan Wismer would lead that effort for South Dakota's producers, consumers, and economy.

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