Contact: Monte Shaw
515-252-6249

JOHNSTON, IOWA – Drivers filling-up their cars with cleaner-burning E15 during the month of October raised $12,000 for breast cancer awareness as part of the “Pink at the Pump” Campaign. Nearly 30 E15 retailers in Iowa participated in the program, which donated three cents of every gallon of E15 sold from Oct. 1 through Oct. 31 to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. The Foundation provides help and inspires hope to those affected by breast cancer through early detection, education and support services.

“We are proud of Pink at the Pump’s success during its first year,” said Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Managing Director Lucy Norton. “The program allowed Iowa E15 retailers to join forces with a worthy cause to focus awareness on breast cancer and cleaner-burning E15. E15 is a great fuel option for anyone concerned about making healthier choices because ethanol-blend fuels, like E15, reduce cancer-causing chemicals in gasoline.”

Participating E15 locations also featured pink E15 nozzle guards as part of the campaign, sponsored by the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board. “Retailers did a great job promoting Pink at the Pump during Breast Cancer Awareness Month,” added Norton. “We hope to not only repeat the campaign next year, but also to expand the program and make it even better.”

E15 is a fuel blend containing 15 percent ethanol, just five percentage points more ethanol than the most commonly used fuel in the U.S., E10. E15 is often sold at a 5 to 10-cent per gallon discount to E10, and is approved by the Environmental Protection Agency for use in all 2001 and newer vehicles. To learn more about E15, please click here.

“Retailers reported that Pink at the Pump encouraged many new folks to try E15,” said Norton. “We’re hopeful these new customers will continue to boost ongoing sales of the product. E15 really is the cleanest, most-affordable fuel option for those driving 2001 or newer vehicles.”

According to a recent IRFA study, Iowa’s renewable fuels industry accounts for more than $4.6 billion of Iowa GDP, generates $2.3 billion in income for Iowa households and supports more than 43,000 jobs throughout all sectors of the Iowa economy. Read the full study by clicking here.

Iowa is the nation’s leader in renewable fuels production. Iowa has 43 ethanol refineries capable of producing 4 billion gallons annually, including nearly 55 million gallons of annual cellulosic ethanol production capacity. In addition, Iowa has 12 biodiesel facilities with the capacity to produce more than 315 million gallons annually.

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association was formed in 2002 to represent the state’s liquid renewable fuels industry. The trade group fosters the development and growth of the renewable fuels industry in Iowa through education, promotion, legislation and infrastructure development.

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