Pearson Fuels Celebrates 450 E85 Stations Across California
Pearson Fuels announced the opening of its 450th E85 station in California, marking another major milestone in the company’s ongoing effort to make cleaner, more affordable fuel accessible statewide. The 450th site, located in Fresno, represents another step toward increasing access to renewable, low-carbon E85 for California drivers.
“When we set our sights on expanding E85 across California, we didn’t expect to reach this point so quickly,” said Doug Vind, managing member of Pearson Fuels. “Hitting 450 stations is a testament to how rapidly drivers have embraced a lower-carbon, cost-saving, higher-octane alternative to gasoline. At our current pace of opening more than 60 new stations per year, we fully expect to see the 500th E85 station opening in Q3 of next year.”
ACE Members Hit Ethanol Production Milestones
ACE member Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy (SIRE) recently reached a major milestone, producing its two-billionth gallon of ethanol. Located in Council Bluffs, Iowa, SIRE began production in February 2009 and today produces approximately 140 million gallons of ethanol annually.
Another ACE member, Highwater Ethanol, also marked a significant achievement, producing its one-billionth gallon of ethanol in mid-December. Highwater began operations in 2009 in Lamberton, Minnesota, with an annual capacity of 50 million gallons and has since expanded production to 70 million gallons per year. ACE congratulates the teams at SIRE and Highwater Ethanol on these remarkable milestones and their continued contributions to America’s ethanol industry.
Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy- Council Bluffs, IA Highwater Ethanol- Lamberton, MN
ACE Highlights U.S. Ethanol’s Low-Carbon Role at Japan Symposium
ACE Chief Marketing Officer Ron Lamberty joined the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council (USGBC) in early December for a trip to Japan, where he spoke at the Nikkei Symposium and Ethanol Conference. Lamberty delivered two presentations during the event. The first highlighted ongoing efforts by the U.S. ethanol industry and the broader supply chain—including terminals and shipping—to lower lifecycle carbon intensity (CI). He also shared perspectives on automotive-sector advancements, his experience driving a flex-fuel hybrid vehicle, and U.S. policies supporting CI reductions, including the 45Z tax credit. His second presentation provided an overview of U.S. policies supporting ethanol production and underscored the role of U.S. corn ethanol in helping Japan achieve future low-carbon gasoline goals.
Japan plans to incorporate 10% ethanol blends by 2030 and 20% by 2040, while also exploring sustainable aviation fuel deployment through the alcohol-to-jet pathway. Japan currently imports U.S. ethanol primarily in the form of ETBE.
The USGBC-organized group visited the first E7 station in Japan, located in Takayama, and owned by Nakagawa Bussan.