By choosing cleaner-burning, higher-performing E15 this October, drivers across Iowa raised $17,000 for breast cancer support services and research as part of the third annual Pink at the Pump campaign, co-sponsored by the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association and Iowa Corn Promotion Board.

Joining the 2018 Pink at the Pump campaign were fuel retailers selling the E15 ethanol blend in North Dakota and Missouri, hosted by the North Dakota Ethanol Council and Missouri Corn Growers Association. They raised money in their states to help fight cancer.

A total of 51 Iowa E15 retail stations donated 3 cents of every gallon of E15 sold from Oct. 1 through Oct. 31 to the National Breast Cancer Foundation and The Hormel Institute.

Providing support for a worthy cause
“Pink at the Pump is a unique campaign that brings together E15 retailers and their customers to support a very worthwhile cause,” says IRFA Managing Director Lucy Norton. “We are proud to provide donations to breast cancer researchers and service providers through the success of Pink at the Pump.”

NBCF provides help and inspires hope to those affected by breast cancer through early detection, education and support services. The Hormel Institute is a global, cutting-edge research facility with a seven-decade history of making significant scientific discoveries on better ways to prevent, detect and treat cancer. 

“We are thrilled to partner with IRFA to promote E15 and raise money for those who are fighting breast cancer,” says Iowa corn farmer Kelly Nieusenhuis, who serves on the board of directors of the Iowa Corn Growers Association. “Thank you, consumers, for supporting your Iowa farmers and helping us raise money for a very important campaign.”

E15 is a fuel blend containing 15% ethanol, just 5% more ethanol than E10, the most commonly used fuel in the U.S. “The higher ethanol blend E15 is often sold at a 5- to 10-cent-per-gallon discount to E10,” Nieusenhuis says, “and E15 is approved by the Environmental Protection Agency for use in all 2001 and newer vehicles. Many more motorists could be and should be filling up their tanks with E15.”

Participating Iowa companies
Fuel retailers in Iowa participating in the 2018 Pink at the Pump campaign included: Ampride, Casey’s General Store, Country Stores, Cresco Fast Stop, Crossroads of Spencer, Decorah Mart, Fast Stop Express, Fuel Time, Good & Quick, Hull Co-op, Ida Grove Cenex, Junction 9-75, KCK’s Food & Fuel, Key Cooperative, Linn Co-op Oil Co., Murphy USA, New Century FS, Popkes Junction 9-75, Sundstop, Three Rivers FS, United Farmers Coop, and Waukon Feed Ranch.

FILLING UP: Motorists buying E15 ethanol blend at this Cedar Falls, Iowa, fuel station helped raise funds to fight breast cancer.

IRFA represents Iowa’s liquid renewable fuels industry and works to foster its growth. Iowa is the nation’s leader in renewable fuels production with 44 ethanol refineries capable of producing nearly 4.4 billion gallons annually — including over 60 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol. Iowa has12 biodiesel facilities with the capacity to produce 400 million gallons annually. For more information, visit iowarfa.org.

Source: Iowa Renewable Fuels Association