Clean Cities
 

Alternative Fuel Price Report
 

October 2010
 
                          

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report October 2010

WELCOME!

Welcome to the October 2010 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 4, 2010 and October 14, 2010 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 4, 

2010 and October 14, 2010. 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. 

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Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report October 2010

SUMMARY OF CURRENT REPORT INFORMATION

Overall nationwide average prices for Table 1. Overall Average Fuel Prices 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, propane) 

Nationwide Average

Price for Fuel This

Report

Nationwide Average

Price for Fuel Last

Report Last Report

Change in Price

This Report vs.

Units of

Measurement

Gasoline (Regular) $2.78 $2.71 $0.07 per gallon higher and some (E85 and CNG) lower. CNG 

is about 85 cents less than gasoline on an Diesel $3.07 $2.95 $0.12 per gallon

energy-equivalent basis, while E85 is about CNG $1.93 $1.91 $0.02 per GGE 34 cents less per gallon than gasoline. 

Propane is about 7 cents per gallon more than Ethanol (E85) $2.44 $2.30 $0.14 per gallon

gasoline. B20 prices are higher than regular Propane $2.85 $2.90 ($0.05) per gallon

diesel by about 7 cents. B99/B100 blends Biodiesel (B20) $3.14 $3.06 $0.08 per gallon have a cost of about 75 cents per gallon more 

than regular diesel.2 Biodiesel (B99‐B100) $3.82 $3.75 $0.07 per gallon

Relative to the last report from July 2010, the average prices for the majority of the fuels included in this price report have increased 

by as much as 14 cents, while the remaining fuel (propane) experienced an average price decrease of 5 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 Table 2. October 2010 Overall Average Fuel Prices on Energy‐ units in which they are typically sold (dollars per gallon or Equivalent Basis

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 

Nationwide

Average Price in

Gasoline Gallon

Equivalents

Nationwide

Average Price in

Diesel Gallon

Equivalents

Nationwide

Average Price in

Dollars per

Million Btu

Gasoline $2.78 $3.10 $24.12

gallon equivalent (GGE), per diesel gallon equivalent (DGE), Diesel $2.75 $3.07 $23.87 or per million Btu of energy. This calculation involves the use 

of nominal lower heating values in Btu per gallon of fuel CNG $1.93 $2.15 $16.68

which can be found in the Transportation Energy Data Book3

. Ethanol (E85) $3.45 $3.84 $29.85

Note that prices for the alternative fuels in terms of cost per 

Propane $3.93 $4.39 $34.10 gallon equivalent are generally higher than their cost per 

gallon because of their lower energy content per gallon4

. It has Biodiesel (B20) $2.86 $3.19 $24.82

been seen, however, that consumer interest in alternative fuels Biodiesel (B99‐B100) $3.76 $4.19 $32.58 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 $6.81 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.
 

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Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report October 2010

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 420 price 

points collected for gasoline and 

371 for diesel, with average 

prices for gasoline ranging from 

a low of $2.61 per gallon on the 

Gulf Coast to a high of $2.98 per 

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 $2.86 / 0.21 44 $3.09 / 0.17 37

Central Atlantic $2.72 / 0.60 23 $3.11 / 0.20 39

Lower Atlantic $2.73 / 0.09 44 $3.04 / 0.20 43

Midwest $2.78 / 0.13 141 $3.02 / 0.11 102

Gulf Coast $2.61 / 0.12 36 $2.93 / 0.11 23

Rocky Mountain $2.76 / 0.13 83 $3.01 / 0.09 65

West Coast $2.98 / 0.28 49 $3.27 / 0.27 62

NATIONAL AVERAGE $2.78 / 0.23 420 $3.07 / 0.20 371

gallon on the West Coast. Diesel prices ranged from $2.93 on the Gulf Coast and $3.27 on the West Coast. 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 website5

. 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. 

Table 4. EIA Gasoline and Diesel Price Averages

Gasoline Average

Price from EIA,

Week of 10/11/10

Diesel Average

Price from EIA,

Week 10/11/10

New England $2.83 $3.12

Central Atlantic $2.80 $3.18

Lower Atlantic $2.73 $3.01

Midwest $2.83 $3.06

Gulf Coast $2.67 $2.98

Rocky Mountain $2.80 $3.09

West Coast $3.03 $3.24

NATIONAL AVERAGE $2.82 $3.07

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

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Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report October 2010

COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS (RELATIVE TO GASOLINE)

Average prices for compressed Table 5. Compressed Natural Gas Average Prices by Region from Clean Cities Sources 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 New England $2.28 / 0.70 11 $2.86 / 0.21

Natural Gas (CNG) Information

Reported by Clean Cities ($/GGE)

Regular Gasoline Information

Reported by Clean Cities ($/gal)

of Price of Price

Average Price/ Number of Data Average Price/ Number of Data

Standard Deviation Points Standard Deviation Points

44

from Clean Cities Coordinators, Central Atlantic $2.11 / 0.44 51 $2.72 / 0.60 23

fuel providers, and other Lower Atlantic $1.76 / 0.51 9 $2.73 / 0.09 44 stakeholders on a voluntary basis. 

Over 260 CNG prices were Midwest $1.76 / 0.32 23 $2.78 / 0.13 141

collected in this report.6 

Gulf Coast $1.98 / 0.56 5 $2.61 / 0.12 36

Rocky Mountain $1.59 / 0.20 82 $2.76 / 0.13 83 As Table 5 illustrates by region, 

CNG has a lower price than West Coast $2.17 / 0.34 81 $2.98 / 0.28 49

gasoline for all regions of the NATIONAL AVERAGE $1.93 / 0.44 262 $2.78 / 0.23 420

country for which prices were 

obtained, with the largest 

difference ($1.17 per GGE) being in the Rocky Mountain region. On average, CNG costs about $0.85 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 on the West Coast, as well as the 

Rocky Mountain, Atlantic, and New England 

regions. 

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. 

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Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report October 2010

COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS (RELATIVE TO DIESEL)7

Average prices for compressed Table 6. Compressed Natural Gas Average Prices by Region from Clean Cities Sources

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 

Natural Gas (CNG) Information

Reported by Clean Cities ($/DGE)

Diesel Information

Reported by Clean Cities ($/gal)

of Price of Price

Average Price/ Number of Data Average Price/ Number of Data

Standard Deviation Points Standard Deviation Points

New England $2.54 / 0.78 11 $3.09 / 0.17 37 sources is also shown. These 

prices were collected from across Central Atlantic $2.35 / 0.49 51 $3.11 / 0.20 39

the country from Clean Cities Lower Atlantic $1.96 / 0.56 9 $3.04 / 0.20 43 Coordinators, fuel providers, and 

Midwest $1.97 / 0.35 23 $3.02 / 0.11 102 other stakeholders on a voluntary 

basis. Note that the CNG prices in Gulf Coast $2.21 / 0.62 5 $2.93 / 0.11 23

Table 6 are the same group of Rocky Mountain $1.77 / 0.22 82 $3.01 / 0.09 65 prices as for Table 5, but 

converted to a cost per diesel West Coast $2.41 / 0.38 81 $3.27 / 0.27 62

gallon equivalent basis, in order NATIONAL AVERAGE $2.15 / 0.49 262 $3.07 / 0.20 371

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 ($1.24 per 

DGE) being in the Rocky Mountain region. On average, CNG costs about $0.92 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 5 LNG price points were collected with an average fuel price of $2.03 per gallon. 

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Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report October 2010

ETHANOL (E85)

Average prices for ethanol in an Table 7. Ethanol (E85) Average Prices by Region from Clean Cities Sources

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. 

Ethanol (E85) Information

Reported by Clean Cities ($ per gal)

Regular Gasoline Information

Reported by Clean Cities ($ per gal)

of Price of Price

Average Price/ Number of Data Average Price/ Number of Data

Standard Deviation Points Standard Deviation Points

New England $2.62 / ‐.‐‐ 1 $2.86 / 0.21 44 These prices were collected from 

across the country from Clean Central Atlantic $2.43 / 0.22 69 $2.72 / 0.60 23

Cities Coordinators, fuel Lower Atlantic $2.43 / 0.37 54 $2.73 / 0.09 44

providers, and other stakeholders 

Midwest $2.42 / 0.17 110 $2.78 / 0.13 141 on a voluntary basis. A total of 

382 prices for ethanol were Gulf Coast $2.34 / 0.15 25 $2.61 / 0.12 36

collected in this data collection Rocky Mountain $2.35 / 0.18 70 $2.76 / 0.13 83 effort. 

West Coast $2.64 / 0.19 53 $2.98 / 0.28 49

Note that E85 has a lower NATIONAL AVERAGE $2.44 / 0.24 382 $2.78 / 0.23 420

average price per gallon than 

regular gasoline for all regions 

(see Table 7). On average, E85 is about 34 cents lower in price than regular gasoline on a per-gallon basis, with the largest average 

differential (41 cents) being found in the Rocky Mountain region. Based on the calculated standard deviations in this set of E85 price 

information, it can be seen that price variability for E85 was somewhat 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. 

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Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report October 2010

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 under 190 propane prices 

were collected in this reporting 

period. 

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 $3.31 / 0.42 9 $2.86 / 0.21 44

Central Atlantic $3.10 / 0.74 37 $2.72 / 0.60 23

Lower Atlantic $2.84 / 0.65 21 $2.73 / 0.09 44

Midwest $2.95 / 0.86 33 $2.78 / 0.13 141

Gulf Coast $2.61 / 0.69 12 $2.61 / 0.12 36

Rocky Mountain $2.52 / 0.41 37 $2.76 / 0.13 83 As Table 8 illustrates regionally, 

propane prices are somewhat West Coast $2.80 / 0.76 40 $2.98 / 0.28 49

higher than gasoline in most NATIONAL AVERAGE $2.85 / 0.72 189 $2.78 / 0.23 420

regions and lower in others. 

Overall, propane was about 7 

cents per gallon more 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. Propane prices 

were most favorable on the West Coast. 

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. 

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Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report October 2010

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 135 

prices were obtained for B20 

across the country. 

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 $3.03 / 0.22 15 $3.09 / 0.17 37

Central Atlantic $2.97 / 0.35 16 $3.11 / 0.20 39

Lower Atlantic $3.07 / 0.26 17 $3.04 / 0.20 43

Midwest $3.03 / 0.16 36 $3.02 / 0.11 102

Gulf Coast $3.08 / 0.22 7 $2.93 / 0.11 23

Rocky Mountain $3.19 / 0.20 18 $3.01 / 0.09 65

As Table 9 illustrates, biodiesel West Coast $3.46 / 0.48 28 $3.27 / 0.27 62

in a B20 blend has an average NATIONAL AVERAGE $3.14 / 0.34 137 $3.07 / 0.20 371

price per gallon that is somewhat 

more than conventional diesel 

fuel in most regions (ranging from 14 cent less to 19 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 by region. On average in the U.S., 

biodiesel in a B20 blend costs about 7 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 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 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 the Midwest, 

Central Atlantic, and New England regions. 

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Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report October 2010

BIODIESEL BLENDS: B100/B99

Average prices for high-level Table 10. Biodiesel (B99‐B100) Average Prices by Region from Clean Cities Sources

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 

Biodiesel (B99 B100) Information

Reported by Clean Cities ($ per gal)

Diesel Information

Reported by Clean Cities ($ per gal)

of Price of Price

Average Price/ Number of Data Average Price/ Number of Data

Standard Deviation Points Standard Deviation Points

New England $2.65 / ‐.‐‐ 1 $3.09 / 0.17 37 representatives is also shown. 

These prices were collected Central Atlantic $3.59 / 0.38 7 $3.11 / 0.20 39

from across the country from Lower Atlantic $3.84 / 0.42 3 $3.04 / 0.20 43 Clean Cities Coordinators, fuel 

providers, and other Midwest $3.55 / 0.85 2 $3.02 / 0.11 102

stakeholders on a voluntary Gulf Coast $3.99 / 1.01 3 $2.93 / 0.11 23

basis. A total of 47 price points Rocky Mountain $4.09 / 1.00 4 $3.01 / 0.09 65 were collected from stations 

offering B99/B100 for sale West Coast $3.87 / 0.48 27 $3.27 / 0.27 62

across the country. NATIONAL AVERAGE $3.82 / 0.58 47 $3.07 / 0.20 371

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 $1.08 more than diesel. On average across the nation, B99/B100 is about 75 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 gasoline 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 favorable in three states located in 

the Midwest, Rocky Mountain, and New 

England regions. 

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Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report October 2010

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 July 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 October 2010 Period Price for July 2010 Period Price Differential

October vs. July

Gasoline ($ per gallon) National Average $2.78 $2.71 $0.07 / 2%

New England $2.86 $2.81 $0.05 / 2%

Central Atlantic $2.72 $2.72 $‐.‐‐ / 0%

Lower Atlantic $2.73 $2.56 $0.17 / 6%

Midwest $2.78 $2.65 $0.13 / 5%

Gulf Coast $2.61 $2.59 $0.02 / 1%

Rocky Mountain $2.76 $2.72 $0.04 / 1%

West Coast $2.98 $3.01 ($0.03) / (1%)

Diesel ($ per gallon) National Average $3.07 $2.95 $0.12 / 4%

New England $3.09 $3.04 $0.05 / 2%

Central Atlantic $3.11 $3.01 $0.10 / 3%

Lower Atlantic $3.04 $2.85 $0.19 / 7%

Midwest $3.02 $2.88 $0.14 / 5%

Gulf Coast $2.93 $2.83 $0.10 / 3%

Rocky Mountain $3.01 $2.97 $0.04 / 1%

West Coast $3.27 $3.09 $0.18 / 6%

Compressed Natural Gas ($ per GGE) National Average $1.93 $1.91 $0.02 / 1%

New England $2.28 $2.33 ($0.05) / (2%)

Central Atlantic $2.11 $2.15 ($0.04) / (2%)

Lower Atlantic $1.76 $1.85 ($0.09) / (5%)

Midwest $1.76 $1.70 $0.06 / 4%

Gulf Coast $1.98 $1.83 $0.15 / 8%

Rocky Mountain $1.59 $1.57 $0.02 / 1%

West Coast $2.17 $2.12 $0.05 / 2%

Ethanol (E85) ($ per gallon) National Average $2.44 $2.30 $0.14 / 6%

New England $2.62 $2.39 $0.23 / 10%

Central Atlantic $2.43 $2.34 $0.09 / 4%

Lower Atlantic $2.43 $2.39 $0.04 / 2%

Midwest $2.42 $2.23 $0.19 / 9%

Gulf Coast $2.34 $2.23 $0.11 / 5%

Rocky Mountain $2.35 $2.18 $0.17 / 8%

West Coast $2.64 $2.55 $0.09 / 3%

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Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report October 2010

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

Price for October 2010 Period Price for July 2010 Period Price Differential

October vs. July

Propane ($ per gallon) National Average $2.85 $2.90 ($0.05) / (2%)

New England $3.31 $3.17 $0.14 / 4%

Central Atlantic $3.10 $3.49 ($0.39) / (11%)

Lower Atlantic $2.84 $2.69 $0.15 / 5%

Midwest $2.95 $2.89 $0.06 / 2%

Gulf Coast $2.61 $2.60 $0.01 / 0%

Rocky Mountain $2.52 $2.67 ($0.15) / (6%)

West Coast $2.80 $2.84 ($0.04) / (2%)

Biodiesel (B20) ($ per gallon) National Average $3.14 $3.06 $0.08 / 3%

New England $3.03 $3.07 ($0.04) / (1%)

Central Atlantic $2.97 $3.02 ($0.05) / (2%)

Lower Atlantic $3.07 $2.91 $0.16 / 5%

Midwest $3.03 $2.90 $0.13 / 4%

Gulf Coast $3.08 $2.79 $0.29 / 10%

Rocky Mountain $3.19 $3.06 $0.13 / 4%

West Coast $3.46 $3.36 $0.10 / 3%

Biodiesel (B99‐B100) ($ per gallon) National Average $3.82 $3.75 $0.07 / 2%

New England $2.65 $2.65 $‐.‐‐ / 0%

Central Atlantic $3.59 $4.28 ($0.69) / (16%)

Lower Atlantic $3.84 $3.58 $0.26 / 7%

Midwest $3.55 $4.02 ($0.47) / (12%)

Gulf Coast $3.99 $2.98 $1.01 / 34%

Rocky Mountain $4.09 $3.59 $0.50 / 14%

West Coast $3.87 $3.73 $0.14 / 4%

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Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report October 2010

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 $2.92 $2.78

New England $2.97 $2.85

Central Atlantic $‐.‐‐ $2.72

Lower Atlantic $2.77 $2.73

Midwest $‐.‐‐ $2.78

Gulf Coast $‐.‐‐ $2.61

Rocky Mountain $2.77 $2.75

West Coast $3.09 $2.98

Diesel ($/gallon) National Average $3.11 $3.07

New England $3.03 $3.10

Central Atlantic $3.26 $3.09

Lower Atlantic $3.04 $3.04

Midwest $2.67 $3.02

Gulf Coast $‐.‐‐ $2.93

Rocky Mountain $2.98 $3.01

West Coast $3.33 $3.26

Natural Gas (CNG) ($/GGE) National Average $1.72 $2.03

New England $1.61 $2.43

Central Atlantic $2.03 $2.22

Lower Atlantic $1.73 $1.77

Midwest $1.71 $1.78

Gulf Coast $‐.‐‐ $1.98

Rocky Mountain $1.52 $1.67

West Coast $1.74 $2.20

Ethanol (E85) ($/gallon) National Average $2.57 $2.43

New England $‐.‐‐ $2.62

Central Atlantic $2.60 $2.42

Lower Atlantic $2.31 $2.43

Midwest $2.52 $2.42

Gulf Coast $‐.‐‐ $2.33

Rocky Mountain $2.01 $2.36

West Coast $3.35 $2.63

Propane ($/gallon) National Average $2.13 $2.88

New England $‐.‐‐ $3.30

Central Atlantic $1.85 $3.30

Lower Atlantic $1.99 $2.88

Midwest $2.04 $3.01

Gulf Coast $‐.‐‐ $2.61

Rocky Mountain $‐.‐‐ $2.52

West Coast $3.86 $2.77

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Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report October 2010

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 $2.97 $3.17

New England $2.75 $3.13

Central Atlantic $2.90 $3.10

Lower Atlantic $3.22 $3.05

Midwest $2.99 $3.03

Gulf Coast $3.22 $3.05

Rocky Mountain $3.00 $3.20

West Coast $3.34 $3.47

Biodiesel (B99/B100) ($/gallon) National Average $3.88 $3.81

New England $‐.‐‐ $2.65

Central Atlantic $‐.‐‐ $3.59

Lower Atlantic $‐.‐‐ $3.84

Midwest $‐.‐‐ $3.55

Gulf Coast $‐.‐‐ $3.99

Rocky Mountain $‐.‐‐ $4.08

West Coast $3.88 $3.87

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Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report October 2010

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

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

Price per Gallon

Diesel

Natural Gas (DGE)

Biodiesel (B20)

Biodiesel (B2/B5)

Biodiesel (B99/B100)

Alternative

Fuel Prices

versus

Diesel

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Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report October 2010

. 

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
 

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Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report October 2010

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. 

Page 17