Soon, just for a day, everything around us will be colored green in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day—clothes, rivers, milkshakes, and even beer—but let’s talk about something in Minnesota that’s green all year round: our fuel.
You might not realize it, but there are several “green” options available to many Minnesota drivers. If you are one of the hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans who drive a flex fuel vehicle, you can choose a cleaner-burning ethanol blend like E85 or E30. If you don’t drive a flex fuel vehicle, there’s still a green option for you. All 2001 or newer gasoline-powered vehicles can run on E15, also known as 88 octane.
What makes these fuel options green?
• They’re renewable. Ethanol is made from resources such as corn, which is replanted each spring.
• Using ethanol blends reduces lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions, especially when compared to Canadian tar sands crude, the source of a majority of Minnesota’s petroleum. Using ethanol also reduces carbon monoxide emissions and air toxics, like benzene, a known carcinogen. In short, it is better for our air.
• Because ethanol is locally grown and locally produced, it costs less than imported petroleum. That’s why gasoline blended with ethanol is cheaper than gasoline with no ethanol. On average, 88 octane gasoline is 5-10 cents per gallon less than regular unleaded, saving you some green in your wallet.
If you’re ready to start your St. Paddy’s Day celebration this weekend by fueling up with one of these green options, visit our Flex Fuels or 88 Octane section of this website to find the station nearest you.