The supply program is expected to begin with railcar quantities of isobutanol (a railcar holds approximately 28-29 thousand gallons). As isobutanol production ramps at Gevo’s production facility in Luverne, Minn., and isobutanol-blended gasoline becomes more established at retail outlets, Musket expects to expand its purchase quantities.

Musket is initially targeting retail pumps at Lake Havasu in Arizona, followed by other large marine markets such as Lake Powell, Lake Mead, as well as other large lakes in the western states. Later, Musket also anticipates expanding distribution into its core Oklahoma market.

Gasoline demand for the marine market in the US is estimated to be approximately 1.7 billion gallons per year, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). The National Marine Manufacturers Association has endorsed the use of Gevo’s isobutanol in the marine fuel market because of the superior properties of isobutanol-blended gasolines, namely: prevent moisture absorption and phase separation; reduce engine corrosion; provide higher energy content; and contain a high octane rating.

Gevo has developed proprietary technology that uses a combination of synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, chemistry and chemical engineering to focus primarily on the production of isobutanol and related products from renewable feedstocks.