MONROE - Motorists who purchased fuel at the Badger State Ethanol Smart Station Tuesday drove away with something that's become increasing rare in a time of record-high gasoline prices - a little something in their pockets.
Badger State Ethanol gave out cards worth $20 in fuel to the first 100 customers who purchased 10 or more gallons of E-85 fuel Tuesday. The cards can be redeemed with the next invoice of a SmartCard, a company-issued fuel credit card. The promotion ran between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the station on Fourth Avenue West.
E-85 is a fuel consisting of 85 percent ethanol, derived from corn. It can be used only in Flex Fuel vehicles, which can also use gasoline.
Paul Grassel of Monroe was one of the first customers taking advantage of the deal. He drives a minivan and uses ethanol fuel all the time.
"Why shouldn't I?" he asked. "It's better for the environment. It's about time we start thinking about the environment."
Ethanol is credited for helping the environment as it is made from a renewable resource and helps lessen dependence on fossil fuels. It also burns cleaner, reducing ozone-forming pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
But some people say ethanol yields lower gas mileage than gasoline. Grassel believes his mileage is lower with E-85, but has his own formula around that: He fills his tank with E-10, which is 10 percent ethanol, and when the tank is about half empty, fills it with E85. He said this increases his fuel efficiency by about 4 miles to the gallon, giving him about 27 miles to the gallon on the highway and 21 in town.
One thing that perplexes him is why more vehicles aren't Flex Fuel. His wife recently purchased a new car that wasn't Flex Fuel, replacing her vehicle of the same model that could accept E-85.
"I don't know why that is," he said.
Chip Matzke of Juda specifically looked for a Flex Fuel vehicle when he purchased his pickup truck last summer. He normally buys E-85, but does see a decrease in gas mileage. Still, with the price of a gallon of E-85 at $2.74 Tuesday, a full dollar cheaper than gasoline at local stations, it makes sense to go with ethanol.
"If it's at least 80 cents cheaper, it's worth it," he said of ethanol.
But Glenn Willborn, Monroe, said he finds the difference in mileage negligible, as he filled the tank of the minivan owned by his employer, Leisure Coin of Madison. He estimated it's a matter of only about 4 miles to the gallon - worth the price difference between E-85 and gasoline.
"It's a little less, but not much," he said.
Protecting the environment is a big factor for Willborn. He anticipates getting a new vehicle for work. While his current vehicle was Flex Fuel by happenstance, he pushed for a Flex Fuel vehicle to replace it.
The fuel card give-away was sponsored by a coalition of the American Lung Association of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Corn Growers Association, General Motors, the Wisconsin Office of Energy Independence, Wisconsin Clean Cities and the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council in honor of Clean Air Month.
Badger State Ethanol gave out cards worth $20 in fuel to the first 100 customers who purchased 10 or more gallons of E-85 fuel Tuesday. The cards can be redeemed with the next invoice of a SmartCard, a company-issued fuel credit card. The promotion ran between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the station on Fourth Avenue West.
E-85 is a fuel consisting of 85 percent ethanol, derived from corn. It can be used only in Flex Fuel vehicles, which can also use gasoline.
Paul Grassel of Monroe was one of the first customers taking advantage of the deal. He drives a minivan and uses ethanol fuel all the time.
"Why shouldn't I?" he asked. "It's better for the environment. It's about time we start thinking about the environment."
Ethanol is credited for helping the environment as it is made from a renewable resource and helps lessen dependence on fossil fuels. It also burns cleaner, reducing ozone-forming pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
But some people say ethanol yields lower gas mileage than gasoline. Grassel believes his mileage is lower with E-85, but has his own formula around that: He fills his tank with E-10, which is 10 percent ethanol, and when the tank is about half empty, fills it with E85. He said this increases his fuel efficiency by about 4 miles to the gallon, giving him about 27 miles to the gallon on the highway and 21 in town.
One thing that perplexes him is why more vehicles aren't Flex Fuel. His wife recently purchased a new car that wasn't Flex Fuel, replacing her vehicle of the same model that could accept E-85.
"I don't know why that is," he said.
Chip Matzke of Juda specifically looked for a Flex Fuel vehicle when he purchased his pickup truck last summer. He normally buys E-85, but does see a decrease in gas mileage. Still, with the price of a gallon of E-85 at $2.74 Tuesday, a full dollar cheaper than gasoline at local stations, it makes sense to go with ethanol.
"If it's at least 80 cents cheaper, it's worth it," he said of ethanol.
But Glenn Willborn, Monroe, said he finds the difference in mileage negligible, as he filled the tank of the minivan owned by his employer, Leisure Coin of Madison. He estimated it's a matter of only about 4 miles to the gallon - worth the price difference between E-85 and gasoline.
"It's a little less, but not much," he said.
Protecting the environment is a big factor for Willborn. He anticipates getting a new vehicle for work. While his current vehicle was Flex Fuel by happenstance, he pushed for a Flex Fuel vehicle to replace it.
The fuel card give-away was sponsored by a coalition of the American Lung Association of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Corn Growers Association, General Motors, the Wisconsin Office of Energy Independence, Wisconsin Clean Cities and the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council in honor of Clean Air Month.