Wisconsin Ag Connection - Cars Line Up for E85 Flex-Fuel Promotion

Wisconsin Ag News Headlines

Cars Line Up for E85 Flex-Fuel Promotion
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 09/23/2008

About 500 gallons of E85 gasoline was pumped in just two hours during a special promotion last weekend at the United Cooperative Cenex Convenience store in Beaver Dam. On Saturday, flex-fuel vehicle drivers waited in line for the cleaner-buring fuel and a free Cenex gift card, sponsored by the state's corn growers, as part of the store's Fall Extravaganza. The event was held to mark the 100th anniversary of the American Lung Association of the upper Midwest, strong supporters of this E85 initiative.

"Using E85 can reduce ozone-forming pollutants by 20 percent and evaporative emissions by 25 percent or more," said Dona Wininsky, director of public policy and communications for the Lung Association. "A typical flex-fuel driver can prevent as much as four tons of lifecycle CO2 and other pollutants from entering our air every year simply by fueling with E85 instead of gasoline. That helps make the air cleaner and better for everyone to breathe, which is the heart of our mission."

United Cooperative was excited to participate in this ethanol promotion, not just because of the environmental and health benefits of ethanol-blended fuel, but also because the ethanol industry will help the United States become energy independent, commented Dori Lichty, United Cooperative's public relations manager.

"In 2007, the ethanol industry produced 6.5 billion gallons of ethanol, replacing the need for approximately 228 million barrels of imported oil," Lichty said.

Currently, there are more than 100 E85 stations in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Corn Growers Association has a complete list of locations on its Website, wicorn.org.