October 8th (Monday) is Columbus day and to celebrate it (or as a excuse), Loft's Mini Mart on Highway 9 in Swea City, Iowa, is selling E85 at a discounted price of $1.89 per gallon (but just until 2 pm) - up to 30 gallons.

The event is promoted by the station itself and Iowa Clean Air Choice's Team. In the second quarter of 2007, 800,000 gallons of E85 were sold, 40 percent more than the same period in 2006. 70 stations in Iowa offer E85.

Related:

• Good sugarcane harvest means ethanol will continue to be cheap in Brazil
• In Wisconsin, ethanol seller hit with a $12m lawsuit for selling cheap ethanol
• Offer to get cheap E85 at Sioux Falls, SD

[Source: Clean Air Choice. Thanks Robert for the tip]

The other week, representatives from the American Lung Association of Minnesota headed over to the Minnesota State Fair to host an exhibit called the Path to Clean Air. Did you miss it? If you feel bad for not attending, check out this video where Bob from ALAMN, who's always keen to let ABG know what's going on with biofuels in Minnesota, appears for a brief explanation about biodiesel and ethanol in the state. Also, check out the ALAMN's 2006 Chevy Monte Carlo SS that runs on E85 and a biodiesel-power truck with "American Fuel" stickered on the door.

[Source: YouTube]

Starting today and continuing until September 3, the Clean Air Choice Team will be at the 2007 Minnesota State Fair in St. Paul to unveil something they're calling the "Clean Air Choice Fueling Station," handing out fuel coupons on a stick and in general promoting ethanol and biodiesel. The Path to Cleaner Air exhibit is part of the fair's Experience Exhibit and "tells the story of how Minnesota drivers became the largest users of cleaner-burning biofuels in North America, and how using these fuels prevent an enormous amount of air pollutants from darkening our skies and contributing to global warming." All while enjoying an elephant ear or two, I'm assuming.

"Our single biggest source of air pollution in Minnesota is our vehicles,"� said Bob Moffitt, communications director for the American Lung Association's cleaner fuels and vehicle technology program, in a statement he sent to AutoblogGreen. "Fortunately, Minnesota is one of the few states where many drivers can choose a cleaner-burning alternative fuel, such as E85 or biodiesel, instead of traditional fuels." Once you've been through the exhibit, it's your call: you can enjoy the rides or go pester the operators and see if they're using biodiesel in their generators. Whatever makes you happy, and don't forget to check out Goo Goo Dolls, Garrison Keillor and Def Leppard (PDF) on the main stage.

[Source: Bob from ALAMN]

Paul Sr: "Pauly, I swear, if you knew half as much about biodiesel as you think you do, we wouldn't be screwing around with your corny ethanol bike."

Jr: "Whatever Pops, you haven't built anything cool in your entire life! You wouldn't know cool if I hit you over the head with a corn stalk."

Sr: "Keep talking, and you'll get up close on my size 13 diesel up your..."

Jr: "Go back to your office and sniff some more french fry fumes, why don't cha!"

Mikey: "I thought hydrogen was the new fuel..."

Jr and Sr: "Who asked you Mikey!!!"

Vin and Rick - shake their heads. No words are necessary at this point, right?

Will this scenario be playing out anytime soon? No. But, Orange County Choppers will be building a new bike which is to be powered by E85. This news comes courtesy of Clean Air Choice, and the bike will be shown all over Iowa. So, if you are a Hawkeye, keep an eye out! The Teutels may be nearby - don't get caught in the cross-fire!

Thanks for the tip, Bob!

[Source: Clean Air Choice]