In the report, MBA executive director, Tim Rudnicki, noted that substantive progress had been made in lowering artificial barriers to ethanol, growing the consumer market and getting the fuel chain infrastructure in place over the past six months in Minnesota.

"But much more work remains to be done to bolster the renewable biofuel industry," Rudnicki said.

Among the highlights noted in the report include:

- A bill in the state legislature that included $2 million for biofuel infrastructure

- E15 sales in Minnesota grew 85 percent in the first quarter of 2017

- There were 150 stations that offer E15 in Minnesota as at the end of the first half

- Over 277,000 people in the Twin Cities metro were reached through targeted social media campaigns

- MBA brought 160 students to various ethanol plants in Minnesota to learn about renewable energy

 The report can be downloaded here.