Congratulations, Minnesota!
If you live in Minnesota, you're fortunate to be part of one of the most progressive clean air fuel programs in the country. The program began in 1992 in the Twin Cities metro area, and eventually expanded into a statewide policy. Minnesota legislation now ensures that the vast majority of gasoline sold in the state contains an oxygenate, to provide for cleaner air. In Minnesota, the oxygenate most often used is ethanol.

Oxygenates are blended with gasoline to reduce the amount of harmful carbon monoxide that is discharged from internal combustion engines, like automobiles, lawn mowers, snowmobiles and boat motors. The result of adding an oxygenate (ethanol) is cleaner air for all Minnesotans.

Ethanol is good for our environment
Ethanol is one of the best tools we have to fight air pollution from vehicles. Ethanol is an oxygenate, which simply means that it contains oxygen (about 35%). Adding oxygen to fuel results in more complete fuel combustion, thus reducing harmful tailpipe emissions.

Ethanol also displaces the use of toxic gasoline components such as benzene and MTBE, both known carcinogens. Unlike petroleum-based fuels, ethanol is non-toxic, water soluble and quickly biodegradable.

More environmental information from the Renewable Fuels Association

Ethanol is good for Minnesota's economy
Minnesota's 18 operating ethanol plants have the capacity to produce more than 700 million gallons of ethanol, and add nearly $5 billion to the state's economy every year. Ethanol production helps rural Minnesota communities thrive, by offering employment (the Minnesota Department of Agriculture estimates that in 2008, ethanol plants will provide more than 18,000 jobs), an increased tax base and better prices for corn, the raw material used in most Minnesota ethanol production. Ethanol production helps keep more of the value of what our state's farmers produce right here in Minnesota - rather than sending that added-value overseas.

Find the MDA economic impact report here

Ethanol reduces our dependence on foreign oil
An unfettered supply of affordable energy is crucial to U.S. security and economic health. Yet, recent events have reminded us of the high price we pay for imported energy. With U.S. dependence on foreign oil projected to grow from 57% in 2002 to 68% in 2025, our country increasingly relies on crude oil supplies from very unstable regions of the world.

Renewable fuels like ethanol - produced in this country mostly from corn - are part of the solution to our foreign energy dependency. The use of ethanol directly displaces imports of foreign oil and gasoline additives. Today, ethanol reduces the need to import 128,000 barrels a day of oil and gasoline additives.

More information about ethanol and energy security

Ethanol is safe for all engines
Ethanol is warranted by every automobile manufacturer in the world, and is safe for all engines. Ethanol enhances engine performance by increasing the octane level in gasoline. Many world-class motorcycle and snowmobile racers prefer ethanol because of its performance advantage over other fuels.

Ethanol cleans engines and prevents the build-up of engine deposits. It is safe for engine gaskets, valves, and cylinders in cars, boats, ATVs and all other non-automotive engines, like lawnmowers and chainsaws.

Ethanol is also an ASTM-approved fuel. But probably the most compelling evidence that ethanol is safe for all engines is that motorists have driven more than a trillion miles problem-free using ethanol-blended fuel. And, if you buy your gas in Minnesota, your non-automotive engines have been running fine on ethanol-blended gas for quite a few years now.

E85: The clean air solution
In addition to being blended in Minnesota's gasoline at about a ten percent rate, ethanol is also blended into a fuel formulation called E85, which is comprised of 85 percent ethanol and just 15 percent petroleum. This fuel can be used by a growing number of vehicles called Flexible Fuel Vehicles, or FFVs. FFVs are designed to run on any blend of ethanol and gasoline, up to 85% ethanol. Today, Minnesota has more than 150,000 FFVs on its roads, and over 325 E85 fueling stations - more than any other state in the country. Studies by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have shown that harmful exhaust emissions can be reduced by more than 50% by using high-blend fuels such as E85.

The American Lung Association promotes and supports the use of E85 as a cleaner alternative to gasoline.