Clean Cities 

Alternative Fuel Price Report

January 2011
Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report January 2011

Page 2

WELCOME!

Welcome to the January 2011 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

January 24, 2011 and February 7, 2011 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 

January 24, 2011 and February 7, 2011. Prices 

were 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): the 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 utility 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 compressed natural gas): these fees are not considered in the prices reported 

in these pages.
Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report January 2011

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SUMMARY OF CURRENT REPORT INFORMATION

Overall nationwide average prices for 

conventional and alternative fuels are shown 

in Table 1.1 As this table illustrates, 

alternative fuel prices relative to conventional 

fuels vary, with some (biodiesel) higher and 

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

is about $1.15 less than gasoline on an 

energy-equivalent basis, while E85 is about 

33 cents less per gallon than gasoline. 

Propane is about 3 cents per gallon less than 

gasoline. B20 prices are higher than regular 

diesel by about 5 cents. B99/B100 blends 

have a cost of about 60 cents per gallon more 

than regular diesel.

2

Relative to the last report from October 2010, the average prices for all of the fuels included in this price report have increased by as 

much as 38 cents. It should be noted that the price increases (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 illustrates the fuel prices from Table 1 for 

the current reporting period normalized to a price per gasoline

gallon equivalent (GGE), per diesel gallon equivalent (DGE), 

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 (4 points) of hydrogen information was received: average price for hydrogen was $4.88 per gasoline gallon equivalent in this report. 2 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. 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 than on gasoline. This effect is not currently 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) $3.08 $2.78 $0.30 per gallon

Diesel $3.45 $3.07 $0.38 per gallon

CNG $1.93 $1.93 $-.-- per GGE

Ethanol (E85) $2.75 $2.44 $0.31 per gallon

Propane $3.05 $2.85 $0.20 per gallon

Biodiesel (B20) $3.50 $3.14 $0.36 per gallon

Biodiesel (B99-B100) $4.05 $3.82 $0.23 per gallon

Table 2. January 2011 Overall Average Fuel Prices on EnergyEquivalent Basis

Nationwide 

Average Price in 

Gasoline Gallon 

Equivalents

Nationwide 

Average Price in 

Diesel Gallon 

Equivalents

Nationwide 

Average Price in 

Dollars per 

Million Btu

Gasoline $3.08 $3.43 $26.67

Diesel $3.09 $3.45 $26.81

CNG $1.93 $2.15 $16.74

Ethanol (E85) $3.89 $4.33 $33.68

Propane $4.22 $4.70 $36.54

Biodiesel (B20) $3.19 $3.56 $27.67

Biodiesel (B99-B100) $3.99 $4.45 $34.57
Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report January 2011

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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 Table 3. These prices were 

collected from refueling stations 

selling both conventional fuels 

and alternative fuels, and from 

conventional fuel refueling 

stations near alternative fuel 

stations. There were 438 price 

points collected for gasoline and 

389 for diesel, with average 

prices for gasoline ranging from 

a low of $2.89 per gallon in the 

Rocky Mountain region to a high 

of $3.28 per gallon on the West Coast. Diesel prices ranged from $3.32 in the Lower Atlantic region and $3.61 in the New England 

region. Because prices for conventional fuels were collected from stations and regions providing alternative fuel price 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.

Table 4 illustrates average prices as provided by the DOE Energy 

Information Administration (EIA) on the petroleum information section of 

its website.

5 These prices are averages of prices from a selection of 800

retail fuel stations across the country. Note that the average nationwide 

price from EIA generally matches relatively closely with the averages from 

the station information collected from Clean Cities stakeholders. 

Comparisons 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.

 5 http://www.eia.doe.gov/oil_gas/petroleum/info_glance/petroleum.html

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 $3.26 / 0.15 45 $3.61 / 0.14 39

Central Atlantic $3.19 / 0.19 32 $3.57 / 0.30 58

Lower Atlantic $3.00 / 0.22 51 $3.32 / 0.21 45

Midwest $3.08 / 0.14 152 $3.39 / 0.17 117

Gulf Coast $2.95 / 0.05 38 $3.33 / 0.10 23

Rocky Mountain $2.89 / 0.10 71 $3.38 / 0.09 48

West Coast $3.28 / 0.23 49 $3.57 / 0.23 59

NATIONAL AVERAGE $3.08 / 0.20 438 $3.45 / 0.22 389

Table 4. EIA Gasoline and Diesel Price Averages

Gasoline Average 

Price from EIA, 

Week of 1/31/11

Diesel Average 

Price from EIA, 

Week 1/31/11

New England $3.19 $3.63

Central Atlantic $3.17 $3.61

Lower Atlantic $3.04 $3.43

Midwest $3.09 $3.40

Gulf Coast $2.94 $3.38

Rocky Mountain $2.93 $3.40

West Coast $3.30 $3.53

NATIONAL AVERAGE $3.10 $3.44
Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report January 2011

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COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS (RELATIVE TO GASOLINE)

Average prices for compressed 

natural gas (CNG) 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. 

Over 295 CNG prices were 

collected in this report.

6

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 ($1.52 per GGE) being in the Rocky Mountain region. On average, CNG costs about $1.15 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 in most states across the country.

 6 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 gasoline gallon equivalent 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 gasoline gallon equivalent: 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 $2.36 / 0.74 11 $3.26 / 0.15 45

Central Atlantic $2.27 / 0.54 75 $3.19 / 0.19 32

Lower Atlantic $1.82 / 0.53 7 $3.00 / 0.22 51

Midwest $1.70 / 0.40 27 $3.08 / 0.14 152

Gulf Coast $1.79 / 0.43 6 $2.95 / 0.05 38

Rocky Mountain $1.37 / 0.27 82 $2.89 / 0.10 71

West Coast $2.21 / 0.50 90 $3.28 / 0.23 49

NATIONAL AVERAGE $1.93 / 0.60 298 $3.08 / 0.20 438
Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report January 2011

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COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS (RELATIVE TO DIESEL)7

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 

gallon equivalent basis, in order 

to compare directly with diesel 

prices. 

As Table 6 illustrates by region, CNG has a lower price than diesel for all regions of the country, with the largest difference ($1.86 per 

DGE) being in the Rocky Mountain region. On average, CNG costs about $1.30 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 to diesel 

were also favorable for many states, as the 

map shows.

 7 A total of 9 LNG price points were collected with an average fuel price of $1.75 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 $2.63 / 0.83 11 $3.61 / 0.14 39

Central Atlantic $2.53 / 0.60 75 $3.57 / 0.30 58

Lower Atlantic $2.03 / 0.59 7 $3.32 / 0.21 45

Midwest $1.89/ 0.45 27 $3.39 / 0.17 117

Gulf Coast $2.00 / 0.48 6 $3.33 / 0.10 23

Rocky Mountain $1.52 / 0.31 82 $3.38 / 0.09 48

West Coast $2.46 / 0.56 90 $3.57 / 0.23 59

NATIONAL AVERAGE $2.15 / 0.67 298 $3.45 / 0.22 389
Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report January 2011

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ETHANOL (E85)

Average prices for ethanol in an 

85% blend with 15% gasoline 

(E85) are illustrated in Table 7, 

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. A total of 

420 prices for ethanol were 

collected in this data collection 

effort. 

Note that E85 has a lower 

average price per gallon than 

regular gasoline for all regions

(see Table 7). On average, E85 is about 33 cents lower in price than regular gasoline on a per-gallon basis, with the largest average 

differential (37 cents) being found in the Central Atlantic region. Based on the calculated standard deviations in this set of E85 price 

information, it can be seen that price variability for E85 was slightly higher than the price variability for gasoline for the period.

The map to the right illustrates some cost 

differentials 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 

costs less per gallon than gasoline for most areas

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 $2.90 / -.--- 1 $3.26 / 0.15 45

Central Atlantic $2.82 / 0.22 77 $3.19 / 0.19 32

Lower Atlantic $2.80 / 0.15 47 $3.00 / 0.22 51

Midwest $2.72 / 0.18 135 $3.08 / 0.14 152

Gulf Coast $2.69 / 0.12 34 $2.95 / 0.05 38

Rocky Mountain $2.61 / 0.21 75 $2.89 / 0.10 71

West Coast $2.92 / 0.23 51 $3.28 / 0.23 49

NATIONAL AVERAGE $2.75 / 0.21 420 $3.08 / 0.20 438
Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report January 2011

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. 

Just over 200 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 

3 cents per gallon less than gasoline. Based on calculations of standard deviation in prices, it can be seen that propane prices for 

vehicle use seems to have varied more than gasoline prices during this sampling period.8

The 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 gasoline. States not highlighted 

with a color did not have any propane data 

points in the current report. Several regions 

had states with favorable propane prices

including the Midwest, West Coast, and 

Atlantic regions.

 8 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 vehicle 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 $3.35 / 0.60 9 $3.26 / 0.15 45

Central Atlantic $3.54 / 0.86 42 $3.19 / 0.19 32

Lower Atlantic $3.06 / 0.63 19 $3.00 / 0.22 51

Midwest $2.79 / 0.77 33 $3.08 / 0.14 152

Gulf Coast $2.98 / 0.46 21 $2.95 / 0.05 38

Rocky Mountain $2.72 / 0.50 35 $2.89 / 0.10 71

West Coast $3.01 / 0.76 44 $3.28 / 0.23 49

NATIONAL AVERAGE $3.05 / 0.75 203 $3.08 / 0.20 438
Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report January 2011

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. Over 125

prices were obtained for B20 

across the country.

As Table 9 illustrates, biodiesel 

in a B20 blend has an average 

price per gallon that is somewhat 

more than conventional diesel 

fuel in most regions (ranging from 8 cents less to 16 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 conventional diesel in most regions. On average in the U.S., 

biodiesel in a B20 blend costs about 5 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 pergallon basis, based on differentials between 

biodiesel prices and diesel 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 numbers represent B20 

prices higher than diesel. States not 

highlighted with a color did not have any B20 

data points in the current report. B20 had 

favorable pricing in a number of states located 

around the country including in the West 

Coast, Rocky Mountain, Atlantic, and New 

England regions.

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 $3.53 / 0.29 16 $3.61 / 0.14 39

Central Atlantic $3.58 / 0.27 20 $3.57 / 0.30 58

Lower Atlantic $3.45 / 0.24 19 $3.32 / 0.21 45

Midwest $3.47 / 0.21 32 $3.39 / 0.17 117

Gulf Coast $3.49 / 0.21 7 $3.33 / 0.10 23

Rocky Mountain $3.49 / 0.33 13 $3.38 / 0.09 48

West Coast $3.49 / 0.22 20 $3.57 / 0.23 59

NATIONAL AVERAGE $3.50 / 0.25 127 $3.45 / 0.22 389
Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report January 2011

Page 10

BIODIESEL BLENDS: B100/B99

Average prices for high-level 

blends of biodiesel (99% or 

100% biodiesel with diesel fuel) 

are illustrated in Table 10, 

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. A total of 36 price points 

were collected from stations 

offering B99/B100 for sale 

across the country.

As Table 10 illustrates 

regionally, 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 $1.80 more than diesel. On average across the nation, B99/B100 is about 60 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 for most areas 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 diesel prices for each state (versus 

the regional averages illustrated in Table 10). 

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. Where data was 

available for this report, prices for B100 were 

most favorable in two states located in the 

Gulf Coast and New England regions.

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 $2.95 / -.--- 1 $3.61 / 0.14 39

Central Atlantic $3.99 / 0.38 6 $3.57 / 0.30 58

Lower Atlantic $3.70 / -.--- 1 $3.32 / 0.21 45

Midwest $4.22 / 0.33 3 $3.39 / 0.17 117

Gulf Coast $4.44 / 2.05 2 $3.33 / 0.10 23

Rocky Mountain $5.18 / 0.11 2 $3.38 / 0.09 48

West Coast $3.97 / 0.37 21 $3.57 / 0.23 59

NATIONAL AVERAGE $4.05 / 0.59 36 $3.45 / 0.22 389
Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report January 2011

Page 11

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 October 2010. It should be noted that a portion of the price changes could be attributed to differing sample sizes and 

composition between the two reports. 

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

Price for January 2011 Period Price for October 2010 Period Price Differential 

January vs. October

Gasoline ($ per gallon) National Average $3.08 $2.78 $0.30 / 11%

New England $3.26 $2.86 $0.40 / 14%

Central Atlantic $3.19 $2.72 $0.47 / 17%

Lower Atlantic $3.00 $2.73 $0.27 / 10%

Midwest $3.08 $2.78 $0.30 / 11%

Gulf Coast $2.95 $2.61 $0.34 / 13%

Rocky Mountain $2.89 $2.76 $0.13 / 5%

West Coast $3.28 $2.98 $0.30 / 10%

Diesel ($ per gallon) National Average $3.45 $3.07 $0.38 / 12%

New England $3.61 $3.09 $0.52 / 17%

Central Atlantic $3.57 $3.11 $0.46 / 15%

Lower Atlantic $3.32 $3.04 $0.28 / 9%

Midwest $3.39 $3.02 $0.37 / 12%

Gulf Coast $3.33 $2.93 $0.40 / 14%

Rocky Mountain $3.38 $3.01 $0.37 / 12%

West Coast $3.57 $3.27 $0.30 / 9%

Compressed Natural Gas ($ per GGE) National Average $1.93 $1.93 $-.-- / -%

New England $2.36 $2.28 $0.08 / 4%

Central Atlantic $2.27 $2.11 $0.16 / 8%

Lower Atlantic $1.82 $1.76 $0.06 / 3%

Midwest $1.70 $1.76 ($0.06) / (4%)

Gulf Coast $1.79 $1.98 ($0.19) / (10%)

Rocky Mountain $1.37 $1.59 ($0.22) / (14%)

West Coast $2.21 $2.17 $0.04 / 2%

Ethanol (E85) ($ per gallon) National Average $2.75 $2.44 $0.31 / 13%

New England $2.90 $2.62 $0.28 / 11%

Central Atlantic $2.82 $2.43 $0.39 / 16%

Lower Atlantic $2.80 $2.43 $0.37 / 15%

Midwest $2.72 $2.42 $0.30 / 12%

Gulf Coast $2.69 $2.34 $0.35 / 15%

Rocky Mountain $2.61 $2.35 $0.26 / 11%

West Coast $2.92 $2.64 $0.28 / 11%
Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report January 2011

Page 12

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

Price for January 2011 Period Price for October 2010 Period Price Differential 

January vs. October

Propane ($ per gallon) National Average $3.05 $2.85 $0.20 / 7%

New England $3.35 $3.31 $0.04 / 1%

Central Atlantic $3.54 $3.10 $0.44 / 14%

Lower Atlantic $3.06 $2.84 $0.22 / 8%

Midwest $2.79 $2.95 ($0.16) / (5%)

Gulf Coast $2.98 $2.61 $0.37 / 14%

Rocky Mountain $2.72 $2.52 $0.20 / 8%

West Coast $3.01 $2.80 $0.21 / 8%

Biodiesel (B20) ($ per gallon) National Average $3.50 $3.14 $0.36 / 11%

New England $3.53 $3.03 $0.50 / 17%

Central Atlantic $3.58 $2.97 $0.61 / 20%

Lower Atlantic $3.45 $3.07 $0.38 / 13%

Midwest $3.47 $3.03 $0.44 / 15%

Gulf Coast $3.49 $3.08 $0.41 / 13%

Rocky Mountain $3.49 $3.19 $0.30 / 10%

West Coast $3.49 $3.46 $0.03 / 1%

Biodiesel (B99-B100) ($ per gallon) National Average $4.05 $3.82 $0.23 / 6%

New England $2.95 $2.65 $0.30 / 11%

Central Atlantic $3.99 $3.59 $0.40 / 11%

Lower Atlantic $3.70 $3.84 ($0.14) / (4%)

Midwest $4.22 $3.55 $0.67 / 19%

Gulf Coast $4.44 $3.99 $0.45 / 11%

Rocky Mountain $5.18 $4.09 $1.09 / 27%

West Coast $3.97 $3.87 $0.10 / 2%
Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report January 2011

Page 13

COMPARISON OF PRICES BY REGION FOR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE REFUELING STATIONS

Table 12 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 special 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 $3.03 $3.08 

New England $3.24 $3.26

Central Atlantic $3.03 $3.23

Lower Atlantic $2.70 $3.03

Midwest $-.-- $3.08

Gulf Coast $-.-- $2.95

Rocky Mountain $2.91 $2.89

West Coast $3.43 $3.27

Diesel ($/gallon) National Average $3.47 $3.45 

New England $3.54 $3.62

Central Atlantic $3.67 $3.53

Lower Atlantic $3.03 $3.37

Midwest $2.67 $3.39

Gulf Coast $-.-- $3.33

Rocky Mountain $3.30 $3.38

West Coast $3.76 $3.56

Natural Gas (CNG) ($/GGE) National Average $1.73 $2.06 

New England $1.56 $2.54

Central Atlantic $2.19 $2.41

Lower Atlantic $1.20 $2.07

Midwest $1.62 $1. 72

Gulf Coast $-.-- $1.79

Rocky Mountain $1.27 $1.48

West Coast $1.69 $2.29

Ethanol (E85) ($/gallon) National Average $2.88 $2.75 

New England $-.-- $2.90

Central Atlantic $2.91 $2.81

Lower Atlantic $2.75 $2.80

Midwest $2.79 $2.72

Gulf Coast $-.-- $2.69

Rocky Mountain $2.45 $2.61

West Coast $3.18 $2.91

Propane ($/gallon) National Average $2.56 $3.08 

New England $-.-- $3.35

Central Atlantic $2.24 $3.76

Lower Atlantic $2.17 $3.11

Midwest $2.09 $2.81

Gulf Coast $-.-- $2.98

Rocky Mountain $-.-- $2.72

West Coast $3.23 $2.99
Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report January 2011

Page 14

Table 12. Comparison of Prices by Fuel Type, Region, and Station Type

Private Refueling Station Average 

Price

Public Refueling Station Average 

Price

Biodiesel (B20) ($/gallon) National Average $3.48 $3.50 

New England $3.28 $3.62

Central Atlantic $3.55 $3.61

Lower Atlantic $3.42 $3.45

Midwest $3.40 $3.47

Gulf Coast $3.75 $3.44

Rocky Mountain $0.00 $3.49

West Coast $3.54 $3.48

Biodiesel (B99/B100) ($/gallon) National Average $4.57 $4.02 

New England $-.-- $2.95

Central Atlantic $-.-- $3.99

Lower Atlantic $-.-- $3.70

Midwest $-.-- $4.22

Gulf Coast $-.-- $4.44

Rocky Mountain $-.-- $5.17

West Coast $4.57 $3.90
Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report January 2011

Page 15

HISTORICAL ALTERNATIVE FUEL PRICES FROM PREVIOUS REPORTS

The graphs on this page illustrate the historical prices 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 began 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 

$4.50 

Sep-05

Jan-06

May-06

Sep-06

Jan-07

May-07

Sep-07

Jan-08

May-08

Sep-08

Jan-09

May-09

Sep-09

Jan-10

May-10

Sep-10

Jan-11

Price 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 

$5.50 

Sep-05

Jan-06

May-06

Sep-06

Jan-07

May-07

Sep-07

Jan-08

May-08

Sep-08

Jan-09

May-09

Sep-09

Jan-10

May-10

Sep-10

Jan-11

Price 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 January 2011

Page 16

.

ILLUSTRATION OF CONVERSION FACTORS FOR FUELS

The standard lower heating values for fuels from the Transportation Energy Data Book 26 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 gallon equivalent are illustrated below, and 

were developed using the lower 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 dollars per 

gasoline gallon equivalent, 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 gallon equivalent 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 gallon equivalent, 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 January 2011

Page 17

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

8201 Corporate Drive, Suite 800

Landover, MD 20785

(301) 429-1180 (phone)

(301) 429-1185 (FAX)

afpr@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 favoring 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.