Minneapolis, Feb 15 - For the first time ever, annual E15 sales in Minnesota breached the 100-million-gallon mark with 105.47 million gallons sold in 2022.

According to data from the Minnesota Department of Commerce, this represented a 21 percent increase from the previous record of 87.11 million gallons sold in 2021.

“The record E15 sales last year reported by the Minnesota Department of Commerce demonstrate that when consumers go to the pump they want a cheaper, more environmentally friendly option. E15 provides that option and we need our state and federal policymakers to double down on biofuel infrastructure investments and summertime regulatory relief so that its benefits are available to consumers year-round and at every gas station in the state,” said Brian Werner, executive director at the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association. 

E15 sales in December was 9.57 million gallons, slightly higher than the 9.42 million gallons sold in November. 

Apart from breaching the 100-million-gallon mark, there were other records broken in 2022.

In October, monthly E15 sales exceeded 10 million gallons for the first time with 10.07 million gallons sold.

The volume sold in December was also the sixth straight month E15 sales had exceeded 9 million gallons and the eight straight month it was over 8 million gallons. In 2021, monthly E15 sales in Minnesota surpassed the 8-million-gallon mark only once. 

Meanwhile, E85 sales in Minnesota in 2022 totaled 15.38 million gallons, based on data from the Minnesota Department of Revenue. 

This represented a 28 percent increase from the volume of E85 sold in the state in 2021 (11.96 million gallons).