To publicize an alternative fuel for automobiles, Freeborn County Cooperative and Ethanol producer Exol gave away free fuel at the co-op station on Clark Street in Albert Lea Wednesday.

Thursday, October 25, 2001

To publicize an alternative fuel for automobiles, Freeborn County Cooperative and Ethanol producer Exol gave away free fuel at the co-op station on Clark Street in Albert Lea Wednesday.

The giveaway was a part of a campaign organized by public agencies and interest groups aiming to propagate the use of the environment-friendly fuel alternative to conventional gas.

The new fuel, E85, consists of 85 percent ethanol, made from corn, and 15 percent gasoline.

According to the American Lung Association of Minnesota, one of the campaign participants, E85 reduces ozone-forming tail pipe pollution by 25 percent and greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 40 percent.

Though only flexible-fuel vehicles can use E85, the demand for the new fuel has been steadily increasing, said the co-op’s manager, Gary Newman. The station started selling E85 in January of this year. The price is about five cents cheaper than gas all the time.

Ethanol production in Minnesota has been rapidly growing since the late 1990s, when environmental authorities started imposing the usage of reformulated gas.

The Exol plant located near Glenville is one of the largest ethanol plants in the state. Recent expansion has increased the annual production from 15 million gallons to 36 million, according to General Manager Tony Simpson.

The ethanol production also provides corn farmers an alternative market to sell their crops, and strengthen their economic base.

Ethanol contributed to push up the market price of corn by approximately 10 cents a bushel, Gary Pestorious, president of Exol, said. &uot;It helps all farmers and the local economy.&uot;