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Dennis: The best to understand how these new fuels
and technologies work and the kinds of savings and
benefits they offer is to actually hear from people
in fleets that are already using them so lets take a
look at some clean cities real world exmaples of how
ethanol is making a difference in towns and
communities across the country. Hi I'm Dave Gardy
for Clean Cities TV, the educational internet tv
channel of the U.S. Department of Energy Clean
Cities Program. CCTV features videos about projects
of clean cities coalitions around the country. The
Iowa Clean Cities Coalition (ICCC) builds
partnerships with industry, stakeholders, fleets,
fuel suppliers, and business partners with the goal
of decreasing petroleum use. David May,
Specifications Manager for the Iowa Department of
Transportation talked about a locally grown
alternative fuel. E-85 is a renewable energy source
that uses corn that is grown here in Iowa. We
produce ethanol, which provides jobs for Iowans and
use of E-85 makes our air more clean. ICCC joined
forces with the Iowa Corn Promotion Board, *** & Go
gas stations and the Iowa Department of
Transportation to promote public awareness of the
benefits of reducing gasoline consumption by
increasing use of high blends of ethanol. Previously
a direct mail campaign sent post cards to all of the
flex fuel vehicle owners in Polk and Dallas
counties. The post cards listed all of the locations
where E-85 is sold to increase awareness and assist
people in locating E-85. Shannon Textor (Texter)
Director of Market Development for the Iowa Corn
Promotion Board, commented on a 2011 direct mail
campaign initiated as part of that effort. We did a
direct mail campaign and used the flex fuel vehicle
mailing list to reach those customers that currently
drive a flex fuel vehicle to educate them that they
can fill up with blends up to E-85, which is 85%
ethanol and it's just general consumer awareness and
constant education on the fact that they can use
E-85 and higher blends. Results of the campaign were
dramatic. The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association
reported that 2nd quarter E85 sales in Iowa
increased by 40% percent during this period compared
to the first quarter of 2011. According to the Iowa
Department of Revenue, sales of E85 by Iowa
retailers sold more than 3 1/2 million gallons from
April to June, setting a new all-time record for
Iowa E85 sales. Our E-85 consumption here in the
state of Iowa has continued to increase and part of
that is because of education and awareness such as
the campaign that we just did, the direct mail
piece. And the other reason is more consumers are
aware that they are driving flex fuel vehicles and
asking retailers to install a blender pump or an
E-85 pump, and therefore we've seen tremendous
growth in the number of E-85 and blender pump
stations across the state of Iowa - we're up to 160
today and that number continues to grow. The direct
mail campaign definitely improved Iowa Clean Cities
Coalition's goals for petroleum displacement by
getting the word out to Flex Fuel Vehicle owners
that their particular vehicle can legally consume
higher blends of ethanol than the traditional E10
blend at the pump. When these owners started to use
the higher ethanol blends, consumption of petroleum
decreased at the pump. This is good for the air
quality in Iowa, good for Iowa Clean Cities, good
for their partners and good for the whole State of
Iowa.
For Clean Cities TV, I'm Dave Gardy. Tune in again
for more success stories from Clean Cities
Coalitions.