Holidays in the U.S. are used for so much more than celebrating. We've got President's day sales, the Christmas shopping season, special Easter candy flavors (notice a trend?). For the Fourth of July, something to do with being free is often in order, and this year the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC) has decided that it's energy independence that we need to focus on as a country, dagnabit.

EPIC has put out a statement calling for "unity in search of solutions." By coming together, fellow Americans, EPIC thinks that July 4th could become Energy Independence Day, with ethanol and other renewables for all. A few smarter driving sacrifices (if you can call consolidating trips when gas is at $4/gallon a sacrifice) and increased biofuel output would shift the balance of domestic vs. foreign energy sources to a more homegrown one.

Note: if we're going to be using corn to make all of this ethanol, let's not forget that October 16 is World Food Day.

[Source: EPIC]

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Sorry to anyone in Atlanta who could've used this information today, but I just noticed it now: a half-dozen fuel stations are offering E85 for $1.85 a gallon tomorrow. The low price - subsidized/sponsored by the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC), Clean FUEL Distribution, Indore Oil and BP - also happened today at six other stations. The deal is here because these 12 shops are all new ethanol retailers (Wonder how the post office feels about this?), and EPIC and the other promoters want people to fill up their flex-fuel vehicles with the biofuel. Speaking of which, only vehicles can be tanked during the two-hour sale, not portable gas carriers. If you're interested in buying the fuel, you can click on the image above to read the list of stations better or visit the EPIC website for more information.

[Source: EPIC]

First, some history:

• March 2008: $1.85 a gallon in Iowa.
• October 2007: $0.00 a gallon in Wisconsin.
• August 2007: $1.85 a gallon in South Dakota.
• May 2007: $1.85 a gallon in Iowa.

These are just some of the recent ethanol (E85) promotions that companies like GM and groups like the American Lung Association have offered. Tomorrow there's another event, this time at a Kum & Go station in Norwalk, Iowa. For four hours (between 10 am and 2 pm) E85 is on offer for $1.60 a gallon. Full details after the jump.

Say what you will about corn ethanol (and we do, don't worry), the food for fuel debate, and the high cost of gas for most of the country, for at least a few people, filling up the flexfuel car won't hurt quite as much tomorrow as it usually does. Take it for what it's worth.