Aurora A-Stop to offer E85 and other blended fuel

Construction began on Aurora A-Stop the first week of April and is expected to become operational June 1. The blender pump station, located west of Aurora Cooperative on Highway 61 just north of Grant, will be the only station in the area to offer E85 and other blended fuel. 

The 24/7 fueling station will accept Aurora Cooperative fuel cards and major credit cards, and offer higher blends of ethanol, including E85, E30, E15 and E10. High throughput diesel will also be available to get semi-trucks in and out in an expedient manner.

It will be a fueling location only with no available attendants. 

Vehicles known as flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs), can operate on any blend of ethanol and ordinary unleaded gasoline up to 85 percent ethanol. 

According to the Nebraska Ethanol Board, there are nearly 200,000 FFVs in Nebraska. Many FFVs are distinguishable by a yellow gas tank cap or badge on the rear of the vehicle.

Kevin Sagehorn, Aurora Cooperative vice president of marketing, said their desire to grow their aerial and agronomy business at their Grant location was behind their decision to construct the fueling station. 

He said the decision was also customer driven, as many expressed interest in the opportunity of fuel. 

“We want to try and provide as many services to our customers as possible. So this is really a servicing piece for us as well. 

“Whenever we can have a successful location like Grant, from an agronomy and aerial standpoint, and then supplement that with our fuel, lubricants and energy business, that definitely makes sense for us,” said Sagehorn.

The fueling station will be available to everyone, not just Aurora Cooperative customers. Sagehorn said they have seen a very even split between Aurora customers and others using their other A-Stop locations. 

The Aurora Cooperative slogan, “Your Corn, Your Ethanol”, is what they preach. Sagehorn said they strive to be a leader in the ethanol industry and their market. 

The corn they grow is turned into ethanol at their ethanol plant in Aurora, which goes into their fuel blends that are distributed to customers. 

“So when we say, Your Corn, Your Ethanol, we can truly say we mean it. It really is that,” said Sagehorn.

He explained they are expanding their gasoline, fuel and energy business, and trying to move the market to E15 and higher blends of ethanol because they’re good for the environment and the community, and cheaper at the pump with higher octane.

“We believe that it’s a choice that we should be leading the charge on, so that objective for us is multipronged and it’s really to benefit our farmer owners.”