As summer officially begins, events in Iowa to promote and expand the use of E85 are shifting into high gear.

The American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest reports that Iowa Governor Chet Culver and Lt. Governor Patty Judge will address a workshop at Wallace Auditorium in Des Moines for 100 managers and directors of state-owned vehicle fleets on Thursday, “E85: Kicking the Oil Addiction.” The workshop was developed for the Iowa state agencies by the American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest, on behalf of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the U.S. Dept. of Energy’s Energy Policy Act Program.

In addition, E85 stations across the state are offering discounted fuel today in honor of the Iowa Corn Indy 250 in Newton on Sunday, June 24.

Kum and Go is offering E85 at $1.85 per gallon from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at stores in Ames, Ankeny, Clear Lake, Coralville, Grinnell, Johnston, Lamoni, and West Des Moines.

An additional group of stations is selling E85 at 85 cents below their posted price from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Council Bluffs, Dubuque, Durant, Estherville, Farnhamville, Fort Dodge, Keota, Mapleton and Roelyn.

Besides E85, which can only be used in flex-fuel vehicles, the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council is sponsoring pump promotions on E10 around the state prior to the race on Sunday. Promotions are being held Thursday in West Des Moines and Grinnell, and Friday in Newton.