Ethanol station coming? (11/12/2008)

Portland may be getting a unique ethanol and gasoline blend fueling business.

A request for a special exception to allow a completely self-serve ethanol fueling station on the city's north side will by heard today by the Portland Board of Zoning Appeals.

Dave Miller and Keith Osterholt plan to open a station that will sell a variety of ethanol/gasoline blends - including E85 (85 percent ethanol) and E30 (30 percent ethanol). The station would be located near the southwest corner of Meridian and West Lincoln streets, across the street from Pizza Hut.

Osterholt owns the property at 103 W. Lincoln St., and is the owner/operator of R&R RV Repair at that location.

Miller said Tuesday that the gas station, which has been named Ethy Pump and Go, would be the first one in the state to sell the blended E30, which is 30 percent ethanol and 70 percent gasoline.

Most vehicles can run on E30 he said, adding that state officials are excited that he and Osterholt plan to sell the product.

The Portland BZA will meet today at 5 p.m. to review the request for a special exception to allow a gas station in an area as neighborhood business.

Miller said he picked that location for the business because he already owned it. He said the gas pump will be located on the north side of the property under a canopy. There will be two underground tanks and one pump with three hoses. The gasoline and ethanol will blend at the pump, which will be pay at the pump only.

"I wanted some E-85 for my vehicle," Miller said was his motivation for starting the business. He has a flex-fuel vehicle that can run on high concentrations of ethanol.

Miller added that he grows corn and sells it to the POET Biorefining-Portland.

If the special exception is granted tonight, Miller said work on the project will start immediately. "Hopefully, they'll (grant the request) ... and we can get started," he said.[[In-content Ad]]