Minnesota E15 sales remain nearly flat despite COVID-19 pandemic
The Minnesota Department of Commerce’ year-end ethanol report showed a slight dip in the sales of E15 in 2020, pumping nearly 74.4 million gallons of the cleaner-burning fuel compared to 78 million gallons the year prior.
While a break from the meteoric rise of E15 sales prior to 2020, all signs point to the slight decrease being the result of reduced overall fuel demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic, rather than slowing momentum for E15. For example, total metro area travel for Minnesota declined 20 percent year over year, and statewide travel decreased 10.6 percent, according to the Department of Commerce.
The 74.3 million gallons of E15 sold last year is a 20-percent increase from 2018. Just three years ago in 2017, E15 sales were a little more than 19 million gallons. Prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, January and February were record-setting for their respective months.
More than 370 retailers offer E15 today, making the fuel more accessible to Minnesotans than ever.
The Minnesota Corn Growers Association continues its efforts to grow the use of E15, also known as Unleaded 88, and promote its benefits with Minnesotans through the Better Fuel Initiative. Launched at MN Ag EXPO in 2020, the initiative is a multi-faceted approach to promoting the usage of ethanol-blended fuels.
Increasing the state’s biofuel standard from 10 to 15-percent is once again the top legislative priority for MCGA during Minnesota’s legislative session, which is currently taking place.
Also through the Better Fuel campaign, MCGA launched a comprehensive ad campaign this year aimed at making Minnesotans rethink how they fuel up. The “Better Fuel” campaign will promote cleaner-burning, higher-octane Unleaded 88 at the pump via advertisement airings on television, radio and at gas station pumps. A digital campaign will take over the Internet promoting the fuel, and trucks traveling the state will serves as moving billboards for Unleaded 88. Learn more about the campaign here.
