The “Clean Air on a Stick” exhibit was a hit at the Minnesota State Fair.
The Great Minnesota Get-Together is more than just corn dogs, Midway rides and sheep judging, it’s also an opportunity to connect with visitors about the benefits of ethanol fuels. The American Lung Association in Minnesota (ALAMN) was at the 2014 Minnesota State Fair to share that message.
Those connections began on the opening day of the fair, when the ALAMN brought a flex fuel Ford Focus to the State Fair Parade. The parade, which is held every day of the Fair, is seen by thousands of people who enjoy the floats, marching bands and of course, Princess Kay and her court.
According to Lisa Thurstin, a staffer for ALAMN’s Clean Air Choice Team, the “Clean Air On A Stick” exhibit was a big hit at the Fair parade this year. The Clean Air Choice Team also exhibited a flex fuel Ford F-150 in the State Fair
Robert Moffit from ALAMN spoke to fairgoers about ethanol fuels, flex fuel vehicles and how Minnesotans are breaking their addiction to oil.
parade, demonstrating the wide variety of makes and models that can use ethanol blended fuels.
FlexFuel ethanol blends were also highlighted in the popular Eco Experience building where volunteers encouraged motorists to keep tires properly inflated to increase gas mileage. More than 7,000 FlexFuel branded tire gauges were given out throughout the duration of the Fair and proved to be very popular items.
At the Eco Experience exhibit, Robert Moffitt, another member the Clean Air Choice Team, gave a presentation on “How Minnesota Is Breaking its Addiction To Oil.”
He explained how Minnesota, a state with no fossil fuels, has built a biofuels industry that has the capacity to produce more than 1 billion gallons of ethanol each year. He spoke of the estimated 400,000 flex fuel vehicles registered in Minnesota, the clean air benefits of ethanol blends, and the number of E85 outlets in the state. He also spoke of the rise of E15 in Minnesota, and how the number of E15 retailers are expected to grow in the near future.
Hoon Ge, a fuel expert at MEG Corp, talked ethanol at the Minnesota State Fair.
Noted fuel expert Hoon Ge, who works frequently with the Clean Air Choice Team, also gave a presentation at the Fair on “Understanding Ethanol & Flex Fuel Vehicles.”
Moffitt’s presentation also covered biodiesel and other alternative fuels available in Minnesota.
“As our use of alternative fuels have grown in Minnesota, our overall petroleum consumption has declined,” he said. “Between the years 2003-2011, total petroleum consumption in Minnesota has declined by 17 percent.”