Monday, July 19, 2010

Volume 1, Issue 15

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

Growth Energy Proposes Fundamental Shift in America’s National Fuel Policy

Growth Energy today called for the redirection and eventual phasing out of government support for ethanol in return for a level playing field – infrastructure investments that will create competition in the fuels market and give consumers true freedom to choose their fuel.

“We are confident that in a fair and open market, ethanol can and will compete successfully against oil,” said Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy. “Creating that competitive market will save money for both taxpayers and motorists, since it takes the control out of the hands of Big Oil and puts it into the hands of the consumer.”

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.

Federal Fleet Conference 2010

Growth Energy participated in the 2010 Federal Fleet Conference in Phoenix, Arizona July 12 - 15. The group sponsored a booth where both a Gilbarco Veeder Root and Dresser Wayne blender pump were displayed.

2011 Chevrolet Caprice Police Package to Be E85 Compatible

Chevrolet has released the technical manual for the Holden-based 2011 Chevrolet Caprice PPV (Police Patrol Vehicle) and it includes an E85 compatible platform.

The new 2011 Caprice will be powered by a 265kW/521Nm 6.0-litre V8 and include Active Fuel Management. General Motors (GM) says its 0-100km/h time of less than 6.0 seconds will make it the police service’s fastest-accelerating and highest-top speed vehicle. This FFV will be included in GM’s extensive line of E85 compatible vehicles available in 2012, but this vehicle will not be offered at the retail level.

Kansas City Clean Cities Holds Ethanol Workshop

The Kansas City Regional Clean Cites held a workshop on July 9 in which Growth Energy participated, geared toward ethanol fuel. The speakers focused on where ethanol fits in the world today, fleet and retail success stories, and funding available for retail facilities.

“There are 4,560 flexible fuel vehicles in region 6 of GSA. . . We purchased 3.2 million gallons of gasoline in fiscal year 2009 and we’re on our way on purchasing more in fiscal year 2010,” said U.S. General Services Administration’s (GSA) Region VI Represenative Don Gard. “As a success, we’ve worked with the Army installing the E85 tank in Ft. Leonard Wood, MO. But we are still having the challenges of driver’s reluctance to use E85, educating consumers and there is a lack of E85 stations.”

Ethanol Producers Want To Expand Market

Ethanol producers in the state are calling on the federal government to help their industry. They want a piece of a clean energy jobs bill in Congress, but they said that, more importantly, they want to save what they feel is an important green industry.

While the Badger State Ethanol plant in Monroe is doing well, others in the state haven’t been so lucky, WISC-TV reported. The industry said it’s because of limits on its market, but others said there might not be a great enough demand for ethanol yet.

Growth Energy: Bill Will Help Our Nation Achieve Energy Security

A new bill introduced by Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tim Johnson (D-SD) today includes provisions that will help our nation wean itself off of oil and secure our energy independence, according to Growth Energy, the coalition of U.S. ethanol supporters.

The Securing America’s Future with Energy and Sustainable Technologies Act (SAFEST) includes provisions to promote the production and use of renewable fuels like ethanol through an investment in ethanol infrastructure –blender pumps and pipelines—and Flex Fuel Vehicles, which are capable of operating on any combination of conventional and renewable fuels.

Ethanol Leaders Say The time For Action on Energy is Now

While it is another hot July day in Indiana, the heat is a bit more intense in Washington where Congress and the Obama administration are feeling the heat to adopt a new energy policy for this nation. Tom Buis, with Growth Energy, says it is time for the US to adopt a plan that moves the nation away from petroleum. Buis says the recent renewable energy plan unveiled by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack is a good start, “What the Secretary has articulated here is a plan to move forward, and that is what we need, a plan.” He told HAT that without a plan the U S will slip backwards like we have done during all the other energy crises over the past 40 years.

MP3 available after the jump.

Race Cars Run Faster, Cleaner On Ethanol

A fuel-injected racing car engine powered by E-85, an ethanol-based fuel, outperforms the same engine with a carburetor and leaded racing fuel.

That’s the finding by a team—dubbed Project Green—that includes a group of automotive researchers from the Dept. of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory.

The Ethanol Blend Wall

Fuel ethanol is a renewable fuel made from grain or other biomass sources that is blended into motor gasoline. Ethanol blending into gasoline in the United States has been rising strongly since 2002, initially driven by action taken in several States to ban the use of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), a competing gasoline additive. At the Federal level, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT2005) made changes in the requirements for reformulated gasoline that precipitated a Nation-wide phase out of MTBE beginning in 2006. Soon thereafter, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) further boosted fuel ethanol demand by accelerating and extending the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program that was first established by EPACT2005. The revised RFS requires the use of about 15.2 billion gallons of renewable fuel by 2012 and 36 billion gallons by 2022. EIA expects that 13.2 billion gallons of the 2012 requirement will be met using corn-based fuel ethanol.

Growth Energy: Ethanol Not Responsible for Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone

There have been numerous new — and erroneous — attacks on domestic ethanol for contributing to the “Dead Zone” in the Gulf of Mexico.

Big Oil, notably BP, would love nothing more than to change the subject away from the catastrophic results of policies that rely on drilling for oil.

A short video responding to assertions about hypoxia levels after the jump.

The Truth About the Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone

There have been numerous new – and erroneous – attacks on domestic ethanol for contributing to the “Dead Zone” in the Gulf of Mexico. Big Oil, notably BP, would love nothing more than to change the subject away from the catastrophic results of policies that rely on drilling for oil. Growth Energy wants you to know the truth behind these attacks, so here are some facts about domestic ethanol, and the facts about the Dead Zone, and some perspective.

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.

Member Spotlight – Bridgehampton Service Station, LLC

Bridgehampton Service Station, LLC has recently joined the Growth Energy Market Development team as new members. Established in 1928, by William McCoy. the company was then passed down to Albert McCoy Sr and then to the current owner, Albert McCoy Jr. The owner of the property is Bridgehampton Service Station, LLC in which Albert McCoy Jr is the sole owner. McCoy Petroleum has a total staff of approximately 20 employees.

According to Albert McCoy Jr., President of McCoy Petroleum, their primary interest in joining Growth Energy Market Development was because they wanted to be immersed within the ethanol industry and to receive informational updates regarding biofuels.

New and Renewed Growth Energy Market Development Members

Country Mark

Indianapolis

IN

New E85 and Blender Pump Stations

There are currently a total of 2,165 E85 stations and 161 blender pump stations.

Below are the new E85 and blender pumps as of the last newsletter.

JE Sharber Oil Company	Bainbridge	GA	39817
Pic Quik Stores	Las Cruces	NM	88001
Lucky's **	Las Vegas	NV	89123
Musser Service	Nashville	MI	49073

** 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!