Tuesday, July 06, 2010

Volume 1, Issue 14

Growth Energy Market Development Grants Available

Don't forget! Growth Energy's Market Development team is now offering funding to retailers to assist in ethanol blender pump infrastructure. Grants of $2,500 and $5,000 are now available on a first come, first serve basis to vendors who wish to install new or convert existing equipment for ethanol fueling. We are focusing on areas that are outside the Mid-west that have no additional state grants available.

We are providing a $5,000 grant for a blender pump that dispenses E30 and E85 and up to $2,500 for an E85 dispenser. You can find the two page OUTLINE of the Infrastructure Development Program by clicking here. To review the APPLICATION for the funding, click here. For questions regarding the program, please contact the Market Development office at (573) 635-8445.

Read Growth Energy's blog posts on RenewableEnergyWorld.com

Featured Links

Ethanol Dispensers Receive Final Safety Certification

Growth Energy announced that Underwriters Laboratory (UL) has simultaneously issued certifications to both the Gilbarco Veeder-Root Encore® E85 fueling dispenser and the Dresser Wayne Ovation ®Eco fueling E85 dispenser. These fuel pumps are now completely certified and approved for dispensing any range of fuel ethanol from E0 through E85.

Growth Energy Announces Winners of Fuel on the Fourth Promotion

Growth Energy today announced the winners of their one month “Fuel on the Fourth” contest offering nearly $300 in flex fuel cards to Flex Fuel Vehicle (FFV) owners. Contestants had one month to submit a photo of themselves with their FFV along with a caption describing why they choose to buy flex fuel for their vehicle.

USDA Produces Short Video on Ethanol, E85

Just two weeks after USDA released its “Regional Roadmap to Meeting the Biofuels Goals of the Renewable Fuels Standard,” it now has a short video, touting the importance of ethanol and other biofuels in reducing U.S. dependence on fossil fuels.

You can view this video on Growth Energy’s multimedia page.

Vilsack Urges Swift EPA Approval Of E15 Blend

The Obama administration should approve higher blends of ethanol in gasoline as quickly and broadly as possible, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told a Senate panel today.

Raising the amount of ethanol blended in gasoline to 15 percent from 10 percent would support the industry, meet the U.S. biofuels mandate and revitalize rural economies, Vilsack said.

Gen. Clark Says Renewable Energy The ‘Peace’ Fuel Of The Future

As a four-star general who served as NATO Supreme Allied Commander from 1997 to 2000, Gen. Wesley Clark has been in a unique position to see how vital energy independence is.

“Is there any doubt about what America’s dependence on foreign oil has meant?” said Clark at the 2010 Renewable Energy Action Summit held in Bismarck, N.D.

Propel Fuels, Growth Energy Offer Free Biodiesel Fuel, Ethanol

Ethanol and biodiesel retailer Propel Fuels and Growth Energy aim to get more Sacramento-area drivers to use homegrown renewable fuels with a promotion announced Monday.

Through July 4, consumers can obtain a pre-paid fuel card for five free gallons of E-85, an ethanol blend, or biodiesel, to be used any time at one of Propel’s five area stations. To register for the card, visit the Propel Fuels site. Once registered, Propel will mail free fuel cards to customers while supplies last.

EPAC’s 20th Annual Conference Kicks Off

Ethanol Producers and Consumers (EPAC), an educational outreach non-profit organization who supports the production and use of biofuels as a renewable alternative fuel, kicked off their 20th annual conference today in Missoula, MT. “The Biofuel Journey” conference held a number of sessions focusing on ethanol, biodiesel and small grains.

Blender Pump Program Boosts South Dakota to Lead Nation

The Flandreau lawmaker who sponsored ethanol blender pump legislation during the 2010 session believes the state’s $1 million grant program will put South Dakota in the lead among the entire nation.

Mitch Fargen, D-Dist. 8, said he and other ethanol supporters have stayed busy since last winter’s legislative session ended trying to coordinate efforts to have fuel stations install more blender pumps in the state.

ANALYSIS-Higher US Ethanol Blend May Revive Auto Industry

U.S. automakers oppose raising the blend of ethanol in gasoline from the current 10 percent, saying cars won’t run as well on higher blends, but Brazil’s experience shows their arguments are weak.

Brazil, a model in the biofuels industry, began its ethanol program in 1975 after the world oil crisis sent its economy into a nose dive. The country was importing about 80 percent of its crude at the time.

Herseth Sandlin, Thune slam EPA on E15

Two South Dakota congressional delegates from opposite parties are unhappy — to say the least — with a delay by the Environmental Protection Agency in its consideration of increasing the maximum ethanol blend in gasoline from 10 to 15 percent.

“We’re very frustrated, and we’re making as much noise as we can about it,” said Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., on a Thursday conference call with reporters. “We just need to get this done.”

Corn Ethanol Goes From ‘Energy Sink’ To ‘substantial Net Energy Gain’ — USDA

Corn ethanol supplies twice the amount of energy that is required to make it, the Agriculture Department said in a report released today.

For every British thermal unit (Btu) of energy required to make corn ethanol, 2.3 Btu is produced, the report says. The ratio is higher, it adds, if companies use biomass energy in ethanol production.

General Motors Statement on Flex-Fuel Vehicle Pledge

General Motors is a leader in the production of flex-fuel vehicles and has increased annual production of flex-fuel vehicles to more than 850,000 annually, an increase of 55 percent from 2006 volumes.

Member Spotlight – Farmers Union Oil Company of Moorhead, MN

Farmers Union Oil Company of Moorhead, MN has recently renewed its membership with Growth Energy Market Development. The cooperative also has a retail business, Petro Serve USA. Formed in 1934, it now owns and operates 12 convenience stores in Red River Valley of North Dakota and Minnesota. They also operate a large LP Gas and Bulk Fuels business serving residential, commercial and agricultural customers. They serve approximately 4,000 customers and have a total staff of approximately 150 employees.

New and Renewed Growth Energy Market Development Members

365 Christian Realty Corp: Spirit Gas

New E85 and Blender Pump Stations

There are currently a total of 2,160 E85 stations and 160 blender pump stations

New E85 and blender pumps as of the last newsletter:

North Central Co-op	Logansport	IN
Pro Ag Marketing**	Kirwin	KS
Mirabito #42	Castle Creek	NY
Spirit Gas	Bay shore	NY
Western Convenience	Centennial	CO
Meijer	Marion	IN
Breck Tesoro**	Breckenridge	MN
Frontier Travel Center**	Bowman	ND
OnCue Express #106	Midwest City	OK

** indicates blender pump available

Letters to Growth Energy

Please send comments, questions or suggestions to our Market Development Team and we will share them with our readers in our next FYI newsletter. Email questions, comments or suggestions to: marketdevelopment@growthenergy.org.

Events Calendar

To submit a Calendar item, email marketdevelopment@growthenergy.org.

GrowthEnergy represents the producers and supporters of ethanol who feed the world and fuel America in ways that achieve energy independence, improve economic well-being and create a healthier environment for all Americans now!