# October 200 9 

# Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report

## CLEAN CITIES ALTERNATIVE FUEL PRICE REPORT OCTOBER 2009

Page 2 

### WELCOME!

Welcome to the October 200 9 issue of the Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report, a quarterly report designed to keep you up to date on the prices of alternative fuels and conventional fuels in the U.S

. This issue summarizes prices that were collected between October 16 , 2009 and October 26 , 2009 from Clean Cities Coordinators, fuel providers, and other Clean Cities stakeholders.

METHODOLOGY

In order to collect price information for

both alternative fuels and conventional fuels from areas across the country, Clean Cities Coordinators, fuel providers, and other key stakeholders were contacted to request that they provide prices for fuels in their area on a voluntary basis

. Prices were collected on all major alternative fuels currently in widespread use (natural gas, propane, biodiesel, and ethanol), as well as prices for conventional fuels at stations that also sell alternative fuels (or stations nearby)

. Prices were collected from public and private refueling stations throughout the country , and were collected between

October 16 , 2009 and October 26 , 2009

. Prices wer e then averaged in order to determine regional price trends by fuel and variability in fuel price within regions (and among regions)

. Prices in this report are grouped by U.S. areas as defined by the

Petroleum Administration for Defense Districts (PADD) : t he districts are illustrated in the map to the right.

The prices collected for this report represent retail, at

- the

- pump sales prices for each fuel, including Federal and

state motor fuel taxes

. In some cases, prices were collected from government or util ity refueling facilities and these taxes were not included in the reported price

. In these instances, although these users are not required to pay these taxes, the taxes were added to the reported price to provide a more representative basis for comparison of fuel prices for the purpose of this report

. In some cases, states may charge a flat annual fee for motor fuel taxes (especially for gaseous fuels like CNG): these fees are not considered in the prices reported in these pages.

## CLEAN CITIES ALTERNATIVE FUEL PRICE REPORT OCTOBER 2009

Page 3 

## SUMMARY OF CURRENT REPORT INFORMATION

Overall nationwide average prices for

conventional and alternative fuels are

shown in T able 1. 1 

### As this table
illustrates, alternative fuel prices relative to conventional fuels vary, with some (biodiesel

, propane ) higher and some (E85 and CNG) lower

. CNG

is about 78 cents less than gasoline on

a n energy

- equivalent basis, while E85

is about 37 cents less per gallon than gasoline

. Propane is about 5 cent s per gallon more than gasoline. B20 prices

are higher than regular diesel by

about 9 cent s

. B99/B100 blends have a

cost of about 4 0 cents per gallon more than regular diesel

. 2



### Relative to the last report from July 200 9

, the average prices for most of the fuels included in this price report have

increased by as much as 26 cents

. It should be noted that the price increase s or decreases could be attributed both

to an actual increase in price and to a slightly differing sample of prices (both location and quantity).

Prices in this report were collected and are reported in the units in which they are typically sold (dollars per gallon or dollars per gasoline

- gallon equivalent)

. Because of differing energy contents per gallon for these fuels, the price paid per unit of energy content can differ somewhat from the price paid per gallon

. Table 2 illustrate s the fuel prices from Table 1 for the current reporting period normalized to a price per gasoline

- gallon equivalent

, per diesel gallon equivalent

, or per million Btu of energy

. This

calculation involves the use of nominal lower heating values in Btu per gallon of fuel which can be found in the Transportation Energy Data Book 3



### . Note that prices for the alternative fuels in terms of cost per gallon equivalent are generally higher than their cost per gallon because of their lower energy content per gallon 4



### . It has been seen, however, that consumer interest in alternative fuels increases as the price differential per gallon increases, even if that differential does not directly translate to savings on an energy

- equivalent basis.

1 A very small sample ( 5 points) of hydrogen information was received: average price for hydrogen was $ 15.71 per gge in this report.

2 ASTM specifications now include blends of up to 5% biodiesel as regular diesel fuel, therefore the s eparate li sting for B2/B5 has been discontinued f rom this and subsequent reports.

3 A listing of the conversion factors used appears as an appendix at the end of this report.

4 For ethanol flexible

- fuel vehicles, the actual difference in energy cost per mile is somewhat less than would be calculated simply on the difference in energy content of the fuels, as some sources have noted many FFVs can achieve better energy efficiency (miles per unit of energy) on E85 tha n on gasoline

. This effect is not

current ly included in these calculations as the magnitude of the effect varies by vehicle. 

### Table 1

. Overall Average Fuel Prices

Nationwide Average

Price for Fuel This Report Nationwide Average

Price for Fuel Last Report Change in Price This Report vs.

Last Report Units of

Measurement

Gasoline (Regular) $2.64 $2.44 $0.20 per gallon

Diesel $2.79 $2.54 $ 0.26 per gallon

CNG $1.86 $1.73 $0.13 per GGE

Ethanol (E85) $2.27 $2.13 $0.14 per gallon

Propane $2.69 $2.48 $0.21 per gallon

Biodiesel (B20) $2.88 $2.69 $0.19 per gallon

Biodiesel (B99

- B100) $3.19 $3. 08 $0.11 per gallon



### Table 2. October 2009 Overall Average Fuel Prices on Energy

- Equivalent Basis

Nationwide Average Price in

Gasoline Gallon

Equivalents Nationwide Average Price in

Diesel Gallon Equivalents Nationwide Average Price in Dollars per Million

Btu

Gasoline $2.64 $2.95 $22.90

Diesel $2.50 $2.79 $21.69

CNG $1.86 $2.08 $16.14

Ethanol (E85) $3.21 $3.58 $27.80

Propane $3.72 $4.15 $32.22

Biodiesel (B20) $2.63 $2.93 $22.77

Biodiesel (B99

- B100) $3.14 $3.50 $27.21

## CLEAN CITIES ALTERNATIVE FUEL PRICE REPORT OCTOBER 2009

Page 4 

## GASOLINE AND DIESEL PRICES

Average prices for gasoline and diesel as collected by

Clean Cities coordinators

and other stakeholders ( supplemented where necessary with other

reference sources for conventional fuels) are illustrated in T able 3

. These prices were collected from refueling stations selling both conventional

fuels and alternat ive fuels,

and from conventional fuel refueling stations near

alternative fuel stations

. Just over 285 price points were collected for gasoline and 2 65 for diesel , with average prices for gasoline ranging from a low of $ 2

. 48 per gallon in the Lower Atlantic region to a high of $ 2

. 90 per gallon on the West Coast

. Diesel prices ranged from

$ 2

. 64 in the Lower Atlantic to $ 2.94 on the West Coast

. Because prices for conventional fuels were collected from stations and regions providing alternative fuel pri ce information, data collection was not uniform across the regions of the country

. The information is, however, representative of refueling stations selling both alternative

fuels and conventional fuels.

T able 4 illustrates average prices as provided by the DOE Energy Information Administration (EIA) on the petroleum

information section of its website ( http://www.eia.doe.gov/oil_gas/petroleum/info_glance/pet

roleum.html )

. These prices are averages of prices from a

selection of 800 retail fuel stations across the country

. N ote that the average nationwide price from EIA generally matches relatively closely with the averages from the

station information collected from Clean Cities

stakeholders

. C omparisons in this document between conventional fuel prices and alternative fuel prices will be made using prices collected from Clean Cities representatives wherever possible, as these prices are most representative of stations selling both conventional and

alternative fuels. Table 3. Average Gasoline and Diesel Prices by Region from Clean Cities Sources

Regular Gasoline Information Reported by Clean Cities ($/gal) Diesel Information Reported by Clean Cities ($/gal)

Average Price

/ Standard Deviation

of Price Number of Data

Points Average Price

/ Standard Deviation

of Price Number of Data Points

New England $2.65 / 0.19 46 $2.88 / 0.18 35

Central Atlantic $2.69 / 0.15 23 $2.87 / 0.23 28

Lower Atlantic $2.48 / 0.20 39 $2.64 / 0.17 49

Midwest $2.61 / 0.14 103 $2.78 / 0.13 69

Gulf Coast $2.50 / 0.11 16 $2.65 / 0.10 22

Rocky Mountain $2.51 / 0.13 12 $2.71 / 0.09 16

West Coast $2.90 / 0.28 47 $2.94 / 0.31 49

NATIONAL AVERAGE $2.64 / 0.22 286 $2.79 / 0.22 268



### Table 4. EIA Gasoline and Diesel Price Averages

Gasoline Average
Price from EIA, Week

of 10 / 26

/0

9 Diesel Average Price
from EIA, Week of

10

/ 26

/0

9

New England $2.66 $2.84

Central Atlantic $2.67 $2.92

Lower Atlantic $2.64 $2.77

Midwest $2.66 $2.79

Gulf Coast $2.55 $2.74

Rocky Mountain $2.58 $2.78

West Coast $2.89 $2.90

NATIONAL AVERAGE $2.67 $2.80

## CLEAN CITIES ALTERNATIVE FUEL PRICE REPORT OCTOBER 2009

Page 5 

## COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS (RELATIVE TO GASOLINE)

Average prices for compressed natural gas for

vehicle use are illustrated

in Table 5

, grouped by region

. Information on prices for regular gasoline as provided by Clean Cities representatives is

also shown

. These prices

were collected from across

the country from Clean Cities Coordinators, fuel providers, and other

stakeholders on a voluntary basis. Just over
3 25 CNG prices were collected in this report 5



### .

As Table 5 illustrates by region , CNG has a lower price than gasoline for all regions of the country for which prices

were obtained , with the largest difference ($ 1

. 28 per gge) being in the Rocky Mountain region

. On average, CNG

costs about $ 0

. 78 less than gasoline on a per gasoline gallon equivalent basis

. Variability of CNG prices was higher (based on a standard deviation analysis) than variability of gasoline prices.

The map to the right illustrates some cost differentials by state for natural gas relative to gasoline , based on differentials between natural gas prices

and gasoline prices for each state (versus the regional averages illustrated in Table 5)

. In this map, negative numbers represent costs for natural gas lower than costs for gasoline

. States not highlighted with a color did not have any natural gas data points in the

current report

. As the map illustrates, CNG prices were favorable relative to gasoline for most states across the country, especially in some areas of the

Intermountain West

.

5 Prices for CNG were provided by the individual stakeholders in gasoline

- gallon equivalents from the “price at the pump.” It should be noted that the internal

conversion factor between the physical quantities of gas delivered and gge was not collected from each of the refueling stations

. Regional differences in gas heat content relative to the internal pump conversion factor may change the price per gge: these differences were not determined for this report, however. 

### Table 5. Compressed Natural Gas Average Prices by Region from Clean Cities Sources

Natural Gas (CNG) Information Reported by Clean Cities ($/gge) Regular Gasoline Information Reported by Clean Cities ($/gal)

Average Price

/ Standard Deviation

of Price Number of Data

Points Average Price

/ Standard Deviation

of Price Number of Data Points

New England $2.19 / 0.56 11 $2.65 / 0.19 46

Central Atlantic $2.17 / 0.26 56 $2.69 / 0.15 23

Lower Atlantic $1.71 / 0.28 11 $2.48 / 0.20 39

Midwest $1.76 / 0.37 25 $2.61 / 0.14 103

Gulf Coast $1.95 / 0.23 17 $2.50 / 0.11 16

Rocky Mountain $1.23 / 0.47 89 $2.51 / 0.13 12

West Coast $2.18 / 0.39 119 $2.90 / 0.28 47

NATIONAL AVERAGE $1.86 / 0.56 328 $2.64 / 0.22 286

## CLEAN CITIES ALTERNATIVE FUEL PRICE REPORT OCTOBER 2009

Page 6 

## COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS (RELATIVE TO DIESEL) 6



### Average prices for compressed natural gas for

vehicle use are illustrated

in Table 6 , grouped by region . Information on prices for conventional diesel fuel as provided by
representatives from Clean

Cities and supplemental

sources is also shown

. These prices were collected from across the country

from Clean Cities Coordinators, fuel providers, and other

stakeholders on a voluntary basis

. Note that

the CNG prices in Table 6 are the same group of prices as for Table 5, but converted to a cost per diesel g allon equivalent basis, in order to compare directly with diesel prices

.

As Table 6 illustrates by region , CNG has a lower price than diesel for most regions of the country

, with the largest difference ($ 1

. 34 per d ge) being in the Rocky Mountain region

. On average, CNG costs about $ 0

. 7 1 less than diesel

on a per diesel gallon equivalent basis

. Based on standard deviation calculations, CNG appears to have had more variability in price during this time period relative to diesel fuel.

The map to the right illustrates some cost differentials by state for natural gas

relative to diesel , based on differentials between natural gas prices and diesel prices for each state (versus the regional averages illustrated in Table 6 )

. In this map, negative numbers represent costs for natural gas lower than costs for

diesel

. States not highlighted with a color did not have any natural gas data points in the current report. As with the comparison to gasoline, natural gas prices relative t o diesel were also

favorable for many states , as the map

shows.

6 A total of 10 LNG price points were collected with an average fuel price of $1.59 per gallon. 

### Table 6. Compressed Natural Gas Average Prices by Region from Clean Cities Sources

Natural Gas (CNG) Information Reported by Clean Cities ($/dge) Diesel Information Reported by Clean Cities ($/gal)

Average Price

/ Standard Deviation

of Price Number of Data

Points Average Price

/ Standard Deviation

of Price Number of Data Points

New England $2.44 / 0.62 11 $2.88 / 0.18 35

Central Atlantic $2.42 / 0.29 56 $2.87 / 0.23 28

Lower Atlantic $1.90 / 0.31 11 $2.64 / 0.17 49

Midwest $1.96 / 0.41 25 $2.78 / 0.13 69

Gulf Coast $2.17 / 0.25 17 $2.65 / 0.10 22

Rocky Mountain $1.37 / 0.52 89 $2.71 / 0.09 16

West Coast $2.43 / 0.43 119 $2.94 / 0.31 49

NATIONAL AVERAGE $2.08 / 0.63 328 $2.79 / 0.22 268

## CLEAN CITIES ALTERNATIVE FUEL PRICE REPORT OCTOBER 2009

Page 7 

## ETHANOL (E85)

Average prices for

ethanol in an 85% blend with 15% gasoline (E85)

are illustrated in T able 7

, grouped by region

. Information on prices for regular gasoline as provided by Clean Cities representatives i s also

shown

. These pr i ces were collected from across the country from

Clean Cities Coordinators, fuel providers, and other

stakeholders on a voluntary basis

. A total

of 270 prices for ethanol were collected in this data collection effort.

Note that E85 has a lower av erage price per gallon than regular gasoline for most regions, and higher in other s (see

Table 7 )

. On average, E85 is about 3 7 cents lower in price than regular gasoline on a per

- gallon basis, with the largest average differential ( 49 cents) being found on the West Coast

. Based on the calculated standard deviations in this set of E85 price information, it can be seen that price variability for E85 was somewhat larger than the price variability for gasoline for the period

.

The map to the right illustrates some cost

differential s between E85 and regular gasoline by state , based on differentials between E85 prices and gasoline prices for each state (versus the regional averages illustrated in Table 7 )

. In this

map , negative numbers represent costs for E85 lower than for gasoline, and positive numbers represent costs for E85 higher than gasoline

. States not highlighted with a color did not have any E85 data points in the current report

. In the time period for this report, E85 cost less per gallon than gasoline for

many area s for which prices were available: the best pricing was in the

Midwest. Table 7. Ethanol (E85) Average Prices by Region from Clean Cities Sources

Ethanol (E85) Information Reported by Clean Cities ($ per gal) Regular Gasoline Information Reported by Clean Cities ($ per gal)

Average Price

/ Standard Deviation

of Price Number of Data

Points Average Price

/ Standard Deviation

of Price Number of Data Points

New England $3.01 / 1.44 2 $2.65 / 0.19 46

Central Atlantic $2.40 / 0.28 38 $2.69 / 0.15 23

Lower Atlantic $2.29 / 0.24 49 $2.48 / 0.20 39

Midwest $2.21 / 0.27 92 $2.61 / 0.14 103

Gulf Coast $2.17 / 0.20 16 $2.50 / 0.11 16

Rocky Mountain $2.10 / 0.24 33 $2.51 / 0.13 12

West Coast $2.41 / 0.22 40 $2.90 / 0.28 47

NATIONAL AVERAGE $2.27 / 0.29 270 $2.64 / 0.22 286

## CLEAN CITIES ALTERNATIVE FUEL PRICE REPORT OCTOBER 2009

Page 8 

## PROPANE

Average prices for propane are illustrated

in Table 8 , grouped by
region

. Information on prices for regular gasoline as provided by representatives from

Clean Cities is also

shown

. These prices

were collected from across the country from

Clean Cities Coordinators, fuel providers, and other

stakeholders on a voluntary basis

. About

1 60 propane prices were collected in this reporting period

.

As Table 8 illustrates regionally , propane prices are somewhat higher than gasoline in some regions and lower in

others

. Overall, propane was about 5 cents per gallon more than gasoline

. Based on calculations of standard deviation in prices, it can be seen that pro pane prices for vehicle use seems to have varied more than gasoline prices during this sampling period

. 7



### T he map to the right illustrates some cost differentials between propane and regular gasoline on a per

- gallon basis

, based on differentials between propane prices and gasoline prices for each state (versus the regional averages illustrated in Table 8)

. In this map, negative numbers represent costs for propane lower than costs for gasoline, and positive numbers represent propane prices higher than gaso line

. States not highlighted with a color did not have

any propane data points in the current

report

. Propane prices were most

favorable in parts of the Lower Atlantic

and the West.

7 Prices for propane in this report are from both private fleet refueling stations and public refueling sites that can provide propane for vehicles

and for other uses

. The prices at private stations are generally lower, and may be more representative of the prices the majority of propane

veh icle users pay. 

### Table 8. Propane Average Prices by Region from Clean Cities Sources

Propane Information Reported by Clean Cities ($ per gal) Regular Gasoline Information Reported by Clean Cities ($ per gal)

Average Price

/ Standard Deviation

of Price Number of Data

Points Average Price

/ Standard Deviation

of Price Number of Data Points

New England $2.95 / 0.38 8 $2.65 / 0.19 46

Central Atlantic $3.23 / 0.95 25 $2.69 / 0.15 23

Lower Atlantic $2.79 / 0.79 13 $2.48 / 0.20 39

Midwest $2.73 / 0.79 29 $2.61 / 0.14 103

Gulf Coast $2.54 / 0.49 27 $2.50 / 0.11 16

Rocky Mountain $2.23 / 0.60 29 $2.51 / 0.13 12

West Coast $2.67 / 0.93 32 $2.90 / 0.28 47

NATIONAL AVERAGE $2.69 / 0.81 163 $2.64 / 0.22 286

## CLEAN CITIES ALTERNATIVE FUEL PRICE REPORT OCTOBER 2009

Page 9 

## BIODIESEL BLENDS: B20

Average prices for

biodiesel in a 20% blend with 80% diesel (B20)

are illustrated in Table 9

, grouped by region

. Information on prices for regular diesel as provided by Clean Cities representatives is also

shown

. These prices

were collected from

across the country from

Clean Cities Coordinators, fuel providers, and other

stakeholders on a voluntary basis

. Just under 1 25 p rices were obtained for B20 across the country.

As Table 9 illustrates, biodiesel in a B20 blend has a n average price per gallon that is somewhat more than

conventional diesel fuel in most regions (ranging from 8 cents below to 26 cents more per gallon)

. Based on calculations of standard deviation on B20 prices, variability in B20 prices was larger than the variability in price of

conventio nal diesel by region

. On average in the U.S., biodiesel in a B20 blend costs about 9 cents more per gallon

than conventional diesel fuel based on current information

.

The map to the right illustrates some

cost differentials between B20 and

diesel on a per

- gallon basis , based on

differentials between biodiesel prices and gasoline prices for each state (versus the regional averages illustrated in Table 9)

. In this map, negative numbers represent costs for B20 lower than costs for diesel, and positive

numb ers represent B20 prices higher

than diesel

. States not highlighted with a color did not have any B20 data points in the current report

. B20 ha d favorable pricing in a number of areas including the Rocky Mountains and the

West Coast

. Table 9. Biodiesel (B20) Average Prices by Region from Clean Cities Sources

Biodiesel (B20) Information Reported by Clean Cities ($ per gal) Diesel Information Reported by Clean Cities ($ per gal)

Average Price

/ Standard Deviation

of Price Approximate Number

of Stations Average Price

/ Standard Deviation

of Price Approximate Number of

Stations

New England $2.82 / 0.24 14 $2.88 / 0.18 35

Central Atlantic $3.13 / 0.41 19 $2.87 / 0.23 28

Lower Atlantic $2.67 / 0.19 21 $2.64 / 0.17 49

Midwest $2.69 / 0.25 24 $2.78 / 0.13 69

Gulf Coast $2.67 / 0.14 7 $2.65 / 0.10 22

Rocky Mountain $2.87 / 0.18 7 $2.71 / 0.09 16

West Coast $3.09 / 0.46 30 $2.94 / 0.31 49

NATIONAL AVERAGE $2.88 / 0.38 122 $2.79 / 0.22 268

## CLEAN CITIES ALTERNATIVE FUEL PRICE REPORT OCTOBER 2009

Page 10 

## BIODIESEL BLENDS : LOW

- LEVEL (B2

- B5)



## ASTM specifications now include blends of up to 5% biodiesel as regular diesel fuel

. Therefore, the separate listing for B2/B5 has been discontinued from this and subsequent

reports.

## CLEAN CITIES ALTERNATIVE FUEL PRICE REPORT OCTOBER 2009

Page 11 

## BIODIESEL BLENDS: B100/B99

Average prices for high

level blends of biodiesel (99% or 100% biodiesel with diesel fuel) are illustrated in Table 1 0

, grouped by region

. Information on prices for regular diesel as provided by Clean Cities representatives is also

shown

. These prices

were collected from across the country from

Clean Cities Coordinators, fuel providers, and other stakeholders on a voluntary basis

. Just over 45 p rice points were collected from stations offering B99/B100 for sale across the country.

As Table 1 0 illustrates r egionally, the cost of B99/B100 is generally more than the cost of diesel fuel per gallon in

the regions for which data were collected

, up to $ 0. 52 more than diesel

. On average across the nation, B99/B100 is

about 40 cents per gallon higher than regular diesel

. Based on standard deviation calculations on these price points, it appears that prices for B99/B100 varied more widely in this time period than regular diesel.

The map to the right illustrates some cost differentials between high

- level

biodiesel blends and regular diesel on a

per

- gallon basis , based on differentials between biodiesel prices and gasoline prices for each state (versus the regional averages illustrated in Table 1 0 )

. In this map, negative numbers represent costs

for these blends that are lower than costs for diesel, and positive numbers represent prices for these blends that are higher than diesel

. States not highlighted with a color did not have any high

- level biodiesel blend data points in the current report

. Prices for

B100 were fa vorable in several states for this report

. Table 10

. Biodiesel (B99

- B100) Average Prices by Region from Clean Cities Sources

Biodiesel (B99

- B100) Information Reported by Clean Cities ($ per gal) Diesel Information Reported by Clean Cities ($ per gal)

Average Price

/ Standard Deviation

of Price Number of Data

Points Average Price

/ Standard Deviation

of Price Number of Data Points

New England $2.39 /

-

. -- 1 $2.88 / 0.18 35

Central Atlantic $3.02 / 0.11 8 $2.87 / 0.23 28

Lower Atlantic $3.15 / 0.34 5 $2.64 / 0.17 49

Midwest $3.07 /

-

. -- 1 $2.78 / 0.13 69

Gulf Coast $2.59 /

-

. -- 1 $2.65 / 0.10 22

Rocky Mountain $

-

. -- /

-

. -- 0 $2.71 / 0.09 16

West Coast $3.30 / 0.48 26 $2.94 / 0.31 49

NATIONAL AVERAGE $3.19 / 0.44 42 $2.79 / 0.22 268

## CLEAN CITIES ALTERNATIVE FUEL PRICE REPORT OCTOBER 2009

Page 12 

## COMPARISON OF PRICES OF THIS REPORT VERSUS LAST REPORT

Table 11 below summarizes the average prices collected for this report by region, and compares them to prices collected in the Price Report from J uly 200 9

. It should be noted that a portion of the price changes could be attributed to differing sample sizes and compo sition between the two reports.

Table 11 . Comparison of Prices, Last Price Report versus Current Price Report

Price for October 200 9 Period Price for July 200 9 Period Price Differential O ctober vs. July

Gasoline ($ per gallon) National Average $2.64 $2.44 $0.20 / 8%

New England $2.65 $2.56 $0.09 / 3%

Central Atlantic $2.69 $2.54 $0.15 / 6%

Lower Atlantic $2.48 $2.32 $0.16 / 7%

Midwest $2.61 $2.33 $0.28 / 12%

Gulf Coast $2.50 $2.32 $0.18 / 8%

Rocky Mountain $2.51 $2.41 $0.10 / 4%

West Coast $2.90 $2.75 $0.15 / 5%

Diesel ($ per gallon) National Average $2.79 $2.54 $0.26 / 10%

New England $2.88 $2.64 $0.24 / 9%

Central Atlantic $2.87 $2.62 $0.25 / 9%

Lower Atlantic $2.64 $2.45 $0.19 / 8%

Midwest $2.78 $2.50 $0.27 / 11%

Gulf Coast $2.65 $2.41 $0.24 / 10%

Rocky Mountain $2.71 $2.49 $0.22 / 9%

West Coast $2.94 $2.66 $0.29 / 11%

Compressed Natural Gas ($ per GGE) National Average $1.86 $1.73 $0.13 / 8%

New England $2.19 $1.95 $0.24 / 12%

Central Atlantic $2.17 $1.95 $0.22 / 11%

Lower Atlantic $1.71 $1.66 $0.05 / 3%

Midwest $1.76 $1.63 $0.13 / 8%

Gulf Coast $1.95 $1.92 $0.03 / 2%

Rocky Mountain $1.23 $1.27 ($0.04) / (3%)

West Coast $2.18 $2.01 $0.17 / 8%

Ethanol (E85) ($ per gallon) National Average $2.27 $2.13 $0.14 / 6%

New England $3.01 $3.08 ($0.06) / (2%)

Central Atlantic $2.40 $2.18 $0.22 / 10%

Lower Atlantic $2.29 $2.23 $0.05 / 2%

Midwest $2.21 $2.05 $0.16 / 8%

Gulf Coast $2.17 $2.01 $0.15 / 8%

Rocky Mountain $2.10 $2.05 $0.05 / 2%

West Coast $2.41 $2.31 $0.1 / 4%

## CLEAN CITIES ALTERNATIVE FUEL PRICE REPORT OCTOBER 2009

Page 13 Table 11 . Comparison of Prices, Last Price Report versus Current Price Report

Price for October 200 9 Period Price for July 200 9 Period Price Differential O ctober vs. July

Propane ($ per gallon) National Average $2.69 $2.48 $0.21 / 9%

New England $2.95 $2.51 $0.44 / 18%

Central Atlantic $3.23 $3.00 $0.23 / 8%

Lower Atlantic $2.79 $2.80 ($0.01) / 0%

Midwest $2.73 $2.70 $0.03 / 1%

Gulf Coast $2.54 $1.92 $0.62 / 32%

Rocky Mountain $2.23 $2.18 $0.06 / 3%

West Coast $2.67 $2.69 ($0.01) / 0%

Biodiesel (B20) ($ per gallon) National Average $2.88 $2.69 $0.19 / 7%

New England $2.82 $2.53 $0.29 / 11%

Central Atlantic $3.13 $3.16 ($0.02) / (1%)

Lower Atlantic $2.67 $2.52 $0.16 / 6%

Midwest $2.69 $2.46 $0.24 / 10%

Gulf Coast $2.67 $2.42 $0.24 / 10%

Rocky Mountain $2.87 $2.60 $0.27 / 10%

West Coast $3.09 $2.99 $0.1 / 3%

Biodiesel (B99

- B100) ($ per gallon) National Average $3.19 $3.08 $0.11 / 4%

New England $2.39 $3.25 ($0.86) / (26%)

Central Atlantic $3.02 $3.06 ($0.05) / (2%)

Lower Atlantic $3.15 $2.91 $0.24 / 8%

Midwest $3.07 $2.76 $0.31 / 11%

Gulf Coast $2.59 $2.19 $0.4 / 18%

Rocky Mountain $

-

. -- $3.10 N/A

West Coast $3.30 $3.17 $0.14 / 4%

## CLEAN CITIES ALTERNATIVE FUEL PRICE REPORT OCTOBER 2009

Page 14 

## COMPARISON OF PRICES BY REGION FOR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE REFUELING STATIONS

Table 1 2 below summarizes the comparison of prices for all of the fuels included in this report, separated into averages for stations open to the public (public refueling stations) and stations available only to selected fleets or privately

- owned stations (private refueling stations)

. Private fleet fueling stations can typically negotiate prices lower than retail public stations, if they are willing to commit to purchasing large quantities of fuel over an extended period of time. However, private fleet pricing can sometimes be higher than retail public stations if there are unusual circumstances (remote locations, sites that use very small quantities of fuel, or s pecial contracts where unique billing & accounting services or fleet service management fees are rolled into the price of the fuel).

As with the other prices in this report, all of these averages are prices with state and federal taxes included, using

the protocols outlined at the beginning of this document.

Table 12

. Comparison of Prices by Fuel Type, Region, and Station Type

Private Refueling Station Average Price Public Refueling Station Average Price

Gasoline ($/gallon) National Average $2.57 $2.65

New England $2.66 $2.65

Central Atlantic

-

. -- $2.69

Lower Atlantic $1.89 $2.50

Midwest

-

. -- $2.61

Gulf Coast

-

. -- $2.50

Rocky Mountain $2.58 $2.50

West Coast $2.78 $2.90

Diesel ($/gallon) National Average $2.97 $2.78

New England $3.02 $2.86

Central Atlantic $3.16 $2.81

Lower Atlantic $2.37 $2.64

Midwest

-

. -- $2.78

Gulf Coast

-

. -- $2.65

Rocky Mountain $2.62 $2.73

West Coast $3.06 $2.94

Natural Gas (CNG) ($/GGE) National Average $1.47 $2.00

New England $2.12 $2.20

Central Atlantic $2.21 $2.13

Lower Atlantic $1.13 $1.77

Midwest $1.40 $1.84

Gulf Coast

-

. -- $1.95

Rocky Mountain $1.00 $1.46

West Coast $1.54 $2.22

Ethanol (E85) ($/gallon) National Average $2.63 $2.26

New England $4.03 $1.99

Central Atlantic $2.56 $2.38

Lower Atlantic $1.98 $2.29

Midwest $2.23 $2.21

Gulf Coast

-

. -- $2.17

Rocky Mountain

-

. -- $2.10

West Coast $2.85 $2.40

## CLEAN CITIES ALTERNATIVE FUEL PRICE REPORT OCTOBER 2009

Page 15 

### Table 12

. Comparison of Prices by Fuel Type, Region, and Station Type

Private Refueling Station Average Price Public Refueling Station Average Price

Propane ($/gallon) National Average $1.61 $2.74

New England

-

. -- $2.95

Central Atlantic $1.55 $3.55

Lower Atlantic $1.39 $2.90

Midwest $1.82 $2.79

Gulf Coast

-

. -- $2.54

Rocky Mountain

-

. -- $2.23

West Coast

-

. -- $2.67

Biodiesel (B20) ($/gallon) National Average $2.88 $2.88

New England $2.68 $2.87

Central Atlantic $3.16 $3.11

Lower Atlantic $2.54 $2.68

Midwest $2.59 $2.70

Gulf Coast $2.87 $2.63

Rocky Mountain

-

. -- $2.87

West Coast $2.54 $3.15

Biodiesel (B99/B100) ($/gallon) National Average $2.73 $3.21

New England

-

. -- $2.39

Central Atlantic $3.20 $2.99

Lower Atlantic

-

. -- $3.15

Midwest

-

. -- $3.07

Gulf Coast

-

. -- $2.59

Rocky Mountain

-

. -- -

. --
West Coast $2.25 $3.35

## CLEAN CITIES ALTERNATIVE FUEL PRICE REPORT OCTOBER 2009

Page 16 

## HISTORICAL ALTERNATIVE FUEL PRICES FROM PREVIOUS REPORTS

The graphs on this page illustrate the historical price s for the alternative fuels included in these reports (specifically natural gas, propane, ethanol, and biodiesel) relative to gasoline and

diesel

. These graphs include prices collected as part of the current Price Report activity, which beg an in September 2005

. Natural gas (in GGE), propane, and ethanol have been graphed against gasoline prices, while natural gas (in DGE) and biodiesel have been graphed against diesel prices.

$1.50 $2.00 $2.50 $3.00 $3.50 $4.00 $4.50Sep-05Dec-05Mar-06Jun-06Sep-06Dec-06Mar-07Jun-07Sep-07Dec-07Mar-08Jun-08Sep-08Dec-08Mar-09Jun-09Sep-09Price per Gallon

Gasoline

Natural Gas (GGE)

Propane

Ethanol (E85)

Alternative

Fuel Prices

versus

Gasoline

$1.50 $2.00 $2.50 $3.00 $3.50 $4.00 $4.50 $5.00 $5.50Sep-05Dec-05Mar-06Jun-06Sep-06Dec-06Mar-07Jun-07Sep-07Dec-07Mar-08Jun-08Sep-08Dec-08Mar-09Jun-09Sep-09Price per Gallon

Diesel

Natural Gas (DGE)

Biodiesel (B20)

Biodiesel (B2/B5)

Biodiesel (B99/B100) Alternative

Fuel Prices

versus

Diesel

## CLEAN CITIES ALTERNATIVE FUEL PRICE REPORT OCTOBER 2009

Page 17 

## ILLUSTRATION OF CONVERSION FACTORS FOR FUELS

The standard lower heating values for fuels from the Transportation Energy Databook 2 6 are listed below.

Lower Heating Value

Gasoline 115,400 BTU/gal

Diesel 128,700 BTU/gal

Compressed Natural Gas 960 BTU/cubic foot

Ethanol 75,670 BTU/gal

Propane 83,500 BTU/gal

Biodiesel 117,093 BTU/gal



### Conversion factors to establish prices in dollars per gasoline equivalent gallon are illustrated below, and were developed using the low er heating values outlined above

. The conversion

factors are derived in the manner shown in the graphic to the right.

In the case of CNG, prices are provided to us in GGE, so no conversion is necessary (the representative heating value of CNG is provided above as a reference)

. To convert a price from dollars per gallon to dollar s per gasoline equivalent gallon, multiply the price per gallon by the conversion factor.

Conversion factor to

GGE

CNG 1. 00

Ethanol (E85) 1.41

Propane 1.38

Biodiesel (B20) 0.91

Biodiesel (B100) 0.99



### Conversion factors to establish prices in dollars per diesel equivalent gallon are illustrated below, and were developed using the lower heating values outlined above

. To convert a price from dollars per gallon to dollars per diesel equivalent gallon, multiply the price per gallon by the conversion factor.

Conversion factor to

DGE

Ethanol (E85) 1.58

Propane 1.54

CNG (in GGE) 1.12

Biodiesel (B20) 1.02

Biodiesel (B100) 1.10

## CLEAN CITIES ALTERNATIVE FUEL PRICE REPORT OCTOBER 2009

Page 18 

## ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors would like to acknowledge all of the contributors from the Clean Cities community who have provided prices for this report: we sincerely appreciate your continued dedication to the success of this report

. The authors would also like to acknowledge the continued support of DOE for developing this report.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO PARTICIPATE?

If you would like to provide prices for alternative fuels in your region and be part of the data collection effort for this report, please contact:

Michael D. Laughlin New West Technologies, LLC 4351 Garden City Drive, Suite 600 Landover, MD 20785 (301) 429

- 1180 (phone) (301) 429

- 1185 (FAX) mlaughlin@nwttech.com

DISCLAIMER

This document highlights work sponsored by agencies of the U.S. Government. Neither the U.S. Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy , completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favor ing by the U.S. Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the U.S. Government or any agency thereof.