South Dakota Incorporates E-15 Into State Fleet

The state of South Dakota's vehicles will begin fueling up with E-15 as a way to support the state's ethanol industry, Gov. Dennis Daugaard has announced.

State vehicles will begin using the E-15 blend of 15 percent ethanol and 85 percent gasoline at four major fuel test sites in the coming months during a evaluation period. The state's flex fuel vehicles as well as its gasoline vehicles will use the corn-based fuel. The state has been using the E-10 blend in its flex-fuel vehicles.

South Dakota's state fleet includes 1,950 flex-fuel vehicles that make up 58 percent of the fleet.

The state will test E-15 for six months and evaluate how the blend affected the fleet. The state will also "determine how to efficiently utilize homegrown ethanol in the future," according to a statement from Gov. Daugaard.

The test fuel sites will be located in Brookings, Pierre, Rapid City, and Sioux Falls.

"Gov. Daugaard is providing tremendous leadership and vision by encouraging the use of E-15 in the state's vehicle fleet, a move which will support South Dakota's farmers and ethanol industry," said Ron Lamberty, senior vice president of the American Coalition for Ethanol. "We are confident state employees will find E-15 a safe, reliable and affordable fuel choice."