When the Minnesota and Wisconsin clean air teams battled over E85 last week, consumers across the region were our real winners! While Wisconsin can claim bragging rights for pumping more ethanol – 25% more despite an 11¢/gallon disadvantage due to more tax – residents across the area are enjoying the clean air benefits that renewable, corn-based ethanol fuel provides.

There also were a lot of happy flex-fuel vehicle drives in Hudson, Wis., and West Lakeland, Minn., who stopped in for an 85 cent per gallon discount on their fuel purchase that day. From the owner of a brand new Chevy pickup who pumped the 30-gallon maximum of fuel to the businessman in his Ford Fusion, everyone was happy to stop, chat and share in the events fun. Wisconsin drivers also got to meet their state’s top Ag Ambassador Alice in Dairyland, who herself drives a fully-loaded flex Tahoe, while Minnesota drivers met Goldie the Gopher and Nafica the corn goddess.

E85 is recognized by the American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest as the Clean Air Choicetm for its ability to reduce ozone-forming pollutants and emissions and ALA staffers in Minnesota and Wisconsin are some of our biggest proponents of the fuel. The promotion was the brain child of the Minnesota and Wisconsin Corn Growers Associations as a novel way to employ the area’s friendly rivalry into a promotion for clean, renewable corn-based ethanol.