As summer gets underway, the Renewable Fuels Association is once again sponsoring the Ethanol Days of Summer fuel giveaway contest, and encouraging both motorists and boaters to get educated on ethanol and save money at the pump.
RFA Vice President of Industry Relations Robert White says the popularity of the fuel giveaway contest has grown as the availability of higher ethanol blends has grown. “More than 5,700 stations are now selling E85 across more than 3,000 cities, and more than 2,900 stations in 31 states offer E15,” said White.
Drivers are invited to report retail fuel station prices for higher blends of ethanol like E15 and E85 either through E85prices.com, or on Twitter by tagging @EthanolRFA and including the hashtags #ethanol #E15 #E85 and #fuelprices. Contestants will be entered into a random weekly drawing for a $250 pre-paid credit card to be used for fuel purchases. Each week, RFA will award $250 in free fuel from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
RFA is also continuing its outreach this year to boaters with education on using E10 blends in marine engines. White authored a blog post on the topic to encourage boat owners to get the facts. “We don’t want anyone using more than E10 but it comes down to routine maintenance and following the directions and advice of the engine manufacturers, boat manufacturers and fuel manufacturers,” White said, noting that he includes information direct from Mercury-Marine.
White says RFA has teamed up with two fishing champions this year to carry the message of ethanol in tournaments where they compete. Dylan Faulconer, a crappie angler from Kansas who fishes in tournaments throughout the Midwest, and Ryan Armstrong, an active participant in Major League Fishing, a league that travels the countryside chasing the biggest bass.
Learn more about ethanol in the summertime in this interview:
Interview with Robert White, RFA (7:58)