Sales of E85 have increased 43 percent over the first quarter of 2013. Iowans purchased more than 2.62 million gallons of E85 in the second quarter of 2013, up from the 1.83 million gallons of E85 purchased in the first quarter of 2013, according to Iowa Department of Revenue data.

“E85 sales were down at the end of 2012 and beginning of 2013 due to last summer’s drought, but we’re seeing those numbers turn around now with very attractive E85 prices,” said Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA), Executive Director Monte Shaw. “As impressive as the 43 percent increase in second quarter E85 sales was, we should see E85 sales grow even further as the price savings are even better now. I routinely pay more than $1 per gallon less than regular unleaded for E85, and that’s serious savings.”

The IRFA recently launched a wholesale E85 price reporting campaign to promote greater transparency for retailers and distributors of E85 in order to aid retailers in supplying their consumers with the lowest-cost E85 available. The IRFA publishes Thursday’s wholesale E85 prices every Friday.