Saint Paul, MN— On April 1, 2003, tanker trucks adorned with the American flag began filling with E85 fuel, an alternative to traditional gasoline, at the Marathon Ashland Petroleum LLC (MAP) terminal in St. Paul Park, Minnesota. This is the first time E85 (a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% petroleum) has been blended at the MAP terminal. A film crew from the nationally syndicated television show, "Motor Week," was on hand to record the event.

To make the locally produced, alternative fuel more desirable for small, independent service stations, MAP is serving as the "blender of record," handling all paperwork and actions required for federal income tax concerns. Stations that load E85 from the St. Paul Park refinery terminal will be able to do so without dealing with cumbersome paperwork associated with blending of the alternative fuel. Presently, Minnesota leads the nation with more than 70 retail stations and several government fueling locations.

The fuel is designed for use in "flexible fuel vehicles" that operate on any blend of E85 and/or traditional gasoline. The flexible fuel option is standard equipment on more than 20 models produced by Ford, General Motors, Daimler Chrysler, Isuzu, Mercury and Mazda. Drivers can check their owner's manual or look inside their vehicle's fuel door for a decal indicating E85 use.