According to the American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest (ALAUM) Summer 2008 BetterFuels Newsletter, General Motors (GM) has expanded its partnership with the ALAUM to include several new states. This partnership, along with their “from gas-friendly to gas-free” campaign, underscores GM’s ongoing commitment to E85 ethanol and flex fuel technology, and to serving a rapidly changing market seeking smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles.
In addition to working with the American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest Clean Air Choice Teams in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin, GM is also working with local American Lung Association offices in Florida, Georgia, Michigan and Ohio. GM and ALAUM staff conducted a training session in July to familiarize new staff with the program, and share some models that have been successful in the upper Midwest.
“There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to building a retail network of E85 outlets or raising public awareness and acceptance of this cleaner-burning fuel,” said Kelly Marczak, director of the Clean Air Choice program. “That said, there are many plans, tactics and promotions we have field-tested and know are proven methods to help expand the use of E85.”
Marczak hopes that each state can eventually build its own “Clean Air Choice Team,” a model that has proven to be successful in other states. “When fuel retailers, farmers, private industry, nonprofits and government agencies come together with a common goal, good things happen,” she said. “By forming these strong partnerships, we can better provide the public accurate and factual information on biofuels and their role in reducing air pollution.”