Minnesota Offers Drivers More Fuel Choices

PLYMOUTH, Minn. – Federal and state officials will join the Minnesota Corn Growers Association, American Lung Association in Minnesota, and other renewable fuel advocates this Thursday, December 13, 2018, to celebrate the opening of more than 400 E85 stations in Minnesota, and the 300th station selling 88 octane fuel in the state.

The event will highlight the successful completion of the Biofuels Infrastructure Partnership (BIP), a national public-private effort to make cleaner-burning ethanol fuels available to more American motorists. Through BIP, the U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded Minnesota $8 million for ethanol infrastructure development. The federal grant funding was matched by more than $3.5 million in state funds, $2.5 million in private funds, and an investment of more than $9.7 million from fuel station owners. A total of 137 locations across Minnesota received funding under this effort.

When: Thursday, December 13, 2018, 1:30 p.m.

Where: Vinewood Holiday Station, 4075 Vinewood Lane, Plymouth, MN.

Who: Speakers will include:

• Kelly Novak, Energy Program Manager, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency

• Andrea Vaubel, Deputy Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Agriculture

• Ray Muckala, station owner of Vinewood Holiday in Plymouth and In-n-Out Minnoco in Maplewood.

• Thomas Liepold, Constituent Advocate for U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar

• Paula Sunde, Outreach Director– Agriculture, Energy, and Natural Resources for U.S. Senator Tina Smith

Minnesota has more E85 stations than any other state, and the state has also been a leader in the growth of the new 88 octane gasoline (also known as E15). E85 is a high-ethanol fuel blend that can be used interchangeably with gasoline in flex fuel vehicles. There are more than 350,000 flex fuel vehicles in Minnesota. The 88 octane gasoline is a 15 percent ethanol blend, which has been approved for use by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for any 2001 and newer on-road gasoline light-duty vehicle. Minnesota’s regular 87 octane gasoline has been a 10 percent ethanol blend for more than 20 years.