Volume 1, Issue 18

Iowa Station Owner Outlines Experiences with Installation of a Blender Pump

Jim Harskamp believes in ethanol fuel and believes in blender pumps. He installed a blender pump that sells 20, 30, 40 and 85 percent ethanol fuel about a year and a half ago at his gas station, Coop Gas & Oil at153 N Main Ave. in Sioux Center, IA. Harskamp has no regrets.

“Having a blender pump gives consumers a choice at the pump,” noted Harskamp. “Installing this pump was a no brainer.”

Read More >>

Growth Energy Partners With Rocky Point Citgo to Offer High Level Blends of Ethanol in New York

Growth Energy has joined forces with Rocky Point Citgo to introduce another E85 fueling facility in the state of New York. Rocky Point Citgo is located at 557 RTE 25 A, in Rocky Point, NY and has opened an E85 pump with assistance from Growth Energy’s 2010 E85 and Blender Pump Program.

“It’s exciting to see more retailers in the Northeast installing high level ethanol fueling pumps,” said Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis. “We are pleased to assist Rocky Point Citgo in their efforts to provide motorists with greater fuel choice at the pump.”

Read More >>

Grand Forks Latest N.D. Location With Mid- and High-Level Blends of Ethanol

Grand Forks, North Dakota is now offering flexible fuel vehicle (FFV) owners the choice at the pump. The Valley Dairy station at 2401 S. Columbia Road is offering ethanol blends of E20, E30, and E85.

According to the American Lung Assn. of North Dakota, a grand opening celebration will be held Aug. 24 and 25 at the Grand Forks facility. A ribbon cutting will take place at 10 a.m. on Aug. 24 and ethanol-blend fuel discounts on Aug. 25 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. During the promotion, E85 will be priced at $1.85 a gallon, the price of E30 will be discounted by 30 cents, and the price of E20 will be discounted by 20 cents. There will also be in-store specials throughout the week.

Read More >>

Op-Ed: Ethanol for America

For more than two years, a coalition of strange political bedfellows has done all it can to derail the advancement of the U.S. ethanol industry. These opponents of ethanol have engineered a well-orchestrated campaign that has misled and misinformed the American public about ethanol and its impacts and benefits – particularly when it comes to the American farmer’s ability to grow enough corn for food, feed and fiber.

With recently published reports from the World Bank and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, it’s important to remind our friends in the media, policymakers and the public about those facts and the overall importance and benefits of ethanol. These new reports definitively and absolutely demolish the distortion that there is some sort of “food-versus-fuel” debate; these new reports conclusively state there is no competition between grain for ethanol, and grain for food.

Read More >>

Valero Corner Store Begins Selling E-85 Fuel

Valero Energy Corp. has announced today that one of its company-owned Valero Corner Stores in San Antonio has begun selling E-85, a blend of fuel consisting of up to 85% ethanol blended with unleaded gasoline. E-85 is approved for use in flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs), which continue to grow in popularity with buyers of new cars and light-duty trucks.

Valero also announced plans to continue introducing sales of E-85 at new Valero Corner Stores as they’re built. The stores will continue selling all grades of gasoline and diesel fuel at its locations.

Read More >>

Growth Energy to Participate in Shaping Texas’ Fuel Ethanol Policy this Sept.

The Texas Renewable Energy Industries Association (TREIA) has been bringing decision makers and industry leaders together in Texas for more than 26 years to build the foundation for developing renewable energy.

TREIA has long believed that renewable fuels could be a major economic development play in Texas – The Energy State. Gasoline sold in the highly populated areas of the state is already blended with up to 10% ethanol as an oxygenate. That blending requirement alone consumes millions of gallons per year. Is Texas producing that ethanol in-state? Or are we sending money outside to acquire it? What are the E-85 opportunities? What new technologies are on the horizon? These questions and many others will be addressed when the Texas Renewable Energy Industries Association presents

Read More >>

Growth Energy Partners with Russell Oil Company to Offer High Level Blends of Ethanol in Marion

Growth Energy has joined forces with Russell Oil Company to offer E85 fuel at ROC One Stop in Marion, Ill. ROC One Stop, located at 309 Deyoung Street, installed the pump with funding through Growth Energy’s 2010 E85 and Blender Pump program.

“We are pleased to work with Russell Oil to build out ethanol fueling infrastructure to give more Flex Fuel Vehicle owners access to high levels of ethanol,” said Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis. “There are Flex Fuel Vehicles out there that have never run on anything but conventional gasoline because they don’t have access to mid and high level ethanol. Through our grant program we are working to change that reality by giving consumers a choice at the pump that includes clean, renewable ethanol.”

Read More >>

$17K in Free E85 Fuel to be Offered at Kentucky State Fair

Thorntons, Inc., a leading, independent gasoline/convenience-chain retailer carrying E85 fuel throughout the Midwest, is teaming up with the Kentucky Corn Growers Association (KyCGA) and the Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition (KCFC) to give away $17,000 in free E85 fuel at the 2010 Kentucky State Fair.

From August 19 until August 29, flex fuel vehicle owners can visit the Kentucky corn Shack, under the Great Kentucky Cookout Tent, to pick up free E85 fuel gift cards. The first 106 who stop by the shack each day will receive a $5, $20 or $100 promotional card. These cards can be used at any of the 11 Thornton’s E85 fueling facilities in Kentucky and Southern Indiana – including the nine in the state of Kentucky, two of which will be open by the end of August. You can find the listing of these stations at www.E85Refueling.com.

Read More >>

Growth Energy Partners with Bridgehampton Service Station to Offer High Level Blends of Ethanol

Growth Energy has joined forces with Bridgehampton Service Station to introduce another E85 fueling facility in the state of New York. Bridgehampton Service Station at 2148 Montauk Highway in Bridgehampton has opened an E85 pump with assistance from Growth Energy’s 2010 E85 and Blender Pump Program. Earlier this month, Growth Energy assisted with the installment of four other E85 stations in Long Island.

“We are pleased to partner with Bridgehampton Service Station to provide greater access to high level blends of ethanol for New York drivers,” said Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis. “Increased consumption of ethanol will reduce our dependence on foreign oil, clean our air and help create jobs in Bridgehampton and across the country.”

Read More >>

Biofuel station opens in Oakland

The first day of a free alternative fuel giveaway started Tuesday with a trickle of motorists lured in by curiosity and the promise of a bargain: Five free gallons of biodiesel or an ethanol-based blend called Flex Fuel.

“It’s an incentive for drivers to stop,” said Emily Shellabarger, a spokeswoman for Propel, the Sacramento-based fuel company that opened a self-serve fueling dock at a Chevron station at 350 Grand Avenue.

Read More >>

Member Spotlight – GROWMARK

GROWMARK recently renewed its membership within Growth Energy Market Development. GROWMARK is a regional cooperative providing agriculture-related products and services , as well as grain marketing in 21 states and Ontario, Canada.

GROWMARK owns the FS trademark, which is used by affiliated member cooperatives. The FS brand represents knowledgeable, experienced professionals acting with integrity and dedication to serve more than 100,000 customers. This Agricultural supply cooperative started over 86 years ago as a viable source or supplier for fuel in the Midwest. GROWMARK operates in four main territories, which started in WI, IL and IA, they have since branched out into OH, MI, IN, OK, AR, NE, SD and. ND. More information is available at www.growmark.com

Read More >>

New and Renewed Growth Energy Market Development Members

Aurora Cooperative
Frontier Travel Plaza

Read More >>

New E85 and Blender Pump Stations

There are currently a total of 2,235 E85 stations and 208 blender pump stations

New E85 and blender pumps as of the last newsletter:

USA 2 Go Sunoco	Howell	MI
Getty Gas	Patchogue	NY
Bison Grain Company**	Bison	SD
BP	Brighton	MI
Five Star Coop**	New Hampton	IA
Cumberland Gulf Group of Companies # 70256	Hauppauge	NY
Cumberland Gulf Group of Companies #70210	Brentwood	NY
Cumberland Gulf Group of Companies #70304	Ronkonkoma	NY
Cumberland Gulf Group of Companies # 70302	Rockville Center	NY
Holiday	St. Paul	MN
84 Quik Stop Citgo	New Hampton	NY
Mejer	Petosky	MI
Mejer	Battle Creek	MI
Mejer	Cedar Springs	MI
Quik Trip #422	Oak Creek	WI
Quik Trip #338	Plover	WI
Quik Trip #827	Green Bay	WI
Rocky Point Citgo	Rocky Point	NY
Tom's Marathon	Harrison	OH
Mobil	Sterling Heights	MI
Zarco 66 Friendly Fuels- #6**	Lawrence	KS

** Represents blender pumps

Read More >>

Letters to Growth Energy

This section highlights emails and letters to Growth Energy. Send your comments and letters to marketdevelopment@growthenergy.org.

Dear Growth Energy,

What Is E85? Why don't you do some advertizing so the public knows what E85 is?

Thank you,
Paul

Paul,

Thank you for your suggestion! Consumer Education is definitely an ongoing challenge, in which there are consumers who know little or nothing about E85. Most gasoline today contains a blend of 10 percent ethanol and 90 percent gasoline. E85 represents just about the reverse — a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. Because of the higher content of ethanol in E85, it can only be used in Flexible Fuel Vehicles, which are designed to operate efficiently on any percentage of ethanol-blended gasoline between 0 and 85 percent. Your owner’s manual or dealership can tell you if it is an FFV. Each Flexible Fuel Vehicle has sensors that detect the blend of ethanol and adjust fuel delivery and combustion accordingly. Each vehicle’s gears are designed with the intent that they are compatible with ethanol.

There are more than 2,200 E85 stations today and 200 blender pump stations (blender pumps carry any blends between E10 up to E85 with mid level blends like E20, E30, E50). For a full listing of E85 stations, go to EthanolRetailer.com/e85finder.

Growth Energy continues to offer consumer education through our website and makes educational material available to retailers in our online store.

— Growth Energy Market Development

Events Calendar

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

Volume 1, Issue 17

Growth Energy Partners to Open Blender Pumps in Kensington and Kirwin

Growth Energy has joined forces with Pro Ag Marketing to install two blender pumps in Kirwin and Kensington, Kan. The Kirwin Blender pump station, branded Pro Ag Marketing, is located at 222 NE 4th St and the Kensington facility, named Corner Corral Cenex, is located at 108 U.S. 36.

On Friday, August 13 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m, Growth Energy member plant Prairie Horizon will sponsor a grand opening event at the Corner Corral Cenex. State Sen. Janis Lee and Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Josh Svalty will be in attendance and speakers will include Steve Seabrook from POET Ethanol Products and Mike Erhart, General Manager of Prairie Horizon.

Read More >>

Growth Energy Partners with Gulf Oil to Offer High Level Blends of Ethanol at Four Stations in N.Y.

Growth Energy has joined forces with Gulf Oil to provide high level blends of ethanol in Long Island. Gulf has opened four E85 stations, a combination of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, in cooperation with Growth Energy as part of their 2010 E85 and blender pump program.

“We are pleased to partner with Gulf Oil to provide greater access to high level blends of ethanol for consumers,” said Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis. “Increased consumption of ethanol will reduce our dependence on foreign oil, clean our air and help create jobs in Long Island and across the country.”

Read More >>

New Ethanol Fuel Station Opens In Phoenix

AAA Yellow Cab is opening a new 24-hour E85 Ethanol public fueling station on Friday.

The new station is located a quarter mile from Sky Harbor at 3030 S. 45th St. The first 50 customers in line between 10 and 11 a.m. will fill their cars up for just $1.99 per gallon. After the Grand Opening special, the ethanol fuel is still a deal at $2.35 per gallon.

The new station has a 12,000 gallon tank, and the projected volume of the station is 1,000,000 gallons per year. AAA Yellow Cab said the station was built in a record 41 days.

Read More >>

Letter – The Benefits of Ethanol

For years, the government has needed to support renewable fuels like ethanol because they are competing against a heavily entrenched petroleum industry. This country has spent trillions of public and private dollars building a fueling infrastructure that benefits oil and effectively shuts out competitors. The consequences include not only huge environmental risks, but a $300 billion-a-year drain from our economy to pay for imported petroleum.

Growth Energy’s Fueling Freedom plan would redirect the ethanol tax credit away from oil companies — where it is currently used as an incentive to blend ethanol with gasoline — and instead use the funds to build the infrastructure that would allow renewable fuels to compete with oil on a level playing field. By installing 200,000 ethanol pumps at gas stations across the country and putting 120 million flexible-fuel vehicles on the road, our plan would create an open market where ethanol could compete with gasoline without government support.

Read More >>

Growth Energy Teams Up With Country Partners Cooperative to Install First Blender Pump in Ord, Neb.

Growth Energy has joined forces with Country Partners Cooperative in Ord, NE to install the town’s first blender pump. The station offers E20, E30 and is located at 424 North 14th Street in Ord, Nebraska — on the corner of Highway 70 and Highway 11.

“If we want to put Americans back to work, strengthen our national security and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, we need to provide more motorists with the choice of fueling their automobile with renewable, homegrown ethanol,” said Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis. “We are thrilled to have been able to help Country Partners Cooperative install this blender pump to provide consumers with mid and high level blends of ethanol to clean our skies and decrease our dependence on oil.”

Read More >>

Growth Energy Partners with Edwards Oil to Offer High Level Blends of Ethanol

Growth Energy has joined forces with Edwards Oil to offer high level blends of ethanol at the Quik Mart Convenience Store at 358 Cox Creek Parkway located in Florence, Ala. The store will now offer E85 (a combination of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline) as a fueling option for consumers.

“We are pleased to offer assistance to Edwards Oil on the installation of this clean, alternative fuel in Alabama,” said Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis. “Greater access to ethanol will help decrease our dependence on oil, improve our environment and strengthen our national security.”

Edwards Oil Company owns and operates 41 Quik Mart Convenience Stores, 14 of which are located in Northwest Alabama.

Read More >>

Member Spotlight — Gate Petroleum

Gate Petroleum recently renewed its membership within Growth Energy Market Development. The group has three E85 stations in the state of Florida.

Gate Petroleum was established in 1960 by Herbert Peyton, who opened the first Gate Service station in Jacksonville, FL. The name “Gate” was derived from the 1960’s chamber of commerce slogan “Jacksonville” or Gateway to Florida. Gate is a privately held company and this year marks the company’s 50th anniversary.

Read More >>

New and Renewed Growth Energy Market Development Members

Triple L Ag
Country Partners Cooperative
Get Green Energy, LLC
Bob Haskins Racing

Read More >>

New E85 and Blender Pump Stations

There are currently a total of 2,212 E85 stations and 204 blender pump stations. New E85 and blender pumps as of the last newsletter include:

S & K Mini Mart**	Las Vegas	NV
Roc One Stop	Marion	IL
Shell Quik Mart #3	Tullahoma,	TN
Bridgehampton Service Station	Bridgehampton	NY
Weakley County Gas and Oil	Dresden	TN
AAA Yellow Cab	Phoenix	AZ
Corner Corral**	Kensington	KS
Farmers Union Oil Co Lidgerwood-Wyndmere**	Lidgerwood	ND
Allied Energy, Inc.**	Edgeley	ND
Tower Travel Center**	Tower City	ND
Arrowood Prairie Co-Op**	Wimbledon	ND
Arrowood Prairie Co-Op**	Cooperstown	ND
Baseview Petroleum, Inc.**	Northwood	ND
Bjornson Oil Company, Inc.**	Fargo	ND
Cenex of New Town**	Keene	ND
Dusterhoft Oil Company**	Grand Forks	ND
Express Mart**	Minot	ND
Farmers Union Oil Co.**	Fessenden	ND
Farmers Union Oil Co., Moorhead**	2 locations in West Fargo	ND
Farmers Union Oil Co., Moorhead**	4 locations in Fargo	ND
Farmers Union Oil Co., Moorhead**	Casselton	ND
Farmers Union Oil Co., Moorhead**	Valley City	ND
Farmers Union Oil Company**	Ellendale	ND
FU Oil of Southern Valley**	Fairmount	ND
Good Oil Company**	LaMoure	ND
Lisbon Oil Co.**	Lisbon	ND
North Star Co-Op**	Park River	ND
Northdale Oil, Inc.**	Park River	ND
Valley Dairy**	Grand Forks	ND
Walhalla Cooperative Oil Co.**	Walhalla	ND
Paul's PetroMax, Inc.**	Larimore	ND
Allied Energy, Inc.**	Kulm	ND
Gordy's Inc.**	Casselton	ND
Gordy's Inc.**	Mapleton	ND
Farmers Union Oil Company**	Rugby	ND
Farmers Union Oil Company**	Towner	ND
Munich Elevator & Oil**	Munich	ND
Enerbase**	Minot	ND
Hatton Co-op Oil Co.**	Hatton	ND
Farmers Union Oil**	Jamestown	ND
Northwood Oil Co.**	Northwood	ND

** Blender pump available at this facility

 

Read More >>

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.

Volume 1, Issue 16

Growth Energy: Dresser Wayne Blender Pumps Receive Final Safety Certification

Growth Energy along with Dresser Wayne today announced that Underwriters Laboratory (UL) has issued certification to the dual hose ethanol blender available in Dresser Wayne Ovation eco fuel dispensers. This certification will help fuel retailers meet increasing demand for renewable fuel by dispensing mid to high ethanol blends along with conventional gasoline.

Read More >>

Growth Energy Partners to Open First Blender Pump With Mid and High Level Ethanol West of the Rockie

Growth Energy has joined forces with Get Green LLC, Lucky Stop to offer the first blender pump offering mid and high levels of ethanol in the Southwest. Located at 8816 S Eastern in Las Vegas, NV, the site offers ethanol blends of E30 and E85.

Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy noted that the recent certification of Dresser Wayne and Gilbarco blender pumps by Underwriters Laboratory will help promote the installation of blender pumps across the country to help decrease our dependence on oil.

Read More >>

Minnesota Uses More E85 In State-Owned Vehicles

Minnesota’s state agencies continue to make steady progress in their effort to reduce the amount of petroleum consumed by publically-owned vehicles. During the first two quarters of the year, state agencies used 437,063 gallons of E85, a cleaner burning fuel consisting of up to 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. That represents a nearly 25 percent increase over the amount used during the same period in 2009, according to Tim Morse, chair of the SmartFleet Committee, a group tasked with helping agencies comply with Executive Order 04-10, issued by Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

Read More >>

Growth Energy Partners with Retailer in Las Vegas to Offer Higher Ethanol Blends

Growth Energy has joined forces with CJW Petroleum to offer E85 at 3870 Craig Road in North Las Vegas, NV. The station is located in close proximity to Nellis Air Force Base where numerous flexible fuel vehicles are stationed.

“There are tens of thousands of federal flex fuel vehicles that have never run on anything but conventional gasoline because they don’t have access to mid and high level blends of ethanol,” said Phil Lampert, V.P. of Market Development for Growth Energy. “We are working with partners across the nation to build out the infrastructure so flex fuel vehicle owners have a choice at the pump.”

Read More >>

Dresser Wayne Reliance E-Series Dispensers Receive UL Certification for E85 Fuel

Dresser Wayne, a global innovator of fuel dispensers and technologies, announced today that its Reliance® E-Series fuel dispensers for retail and fleet applications received Underwriters Laboratories (UL) certification for dispensing ethanol up to E85. The Reliance E-Series dispenser’s UL certification follows the recent UL certification of the Dresser Wayne Ovation® Eco Fuel retail dispenser, and expands Dresser Wayne’s portfolio of compliant alternative-fuel offerings for both retail and fleet customers.

Read More >>

Ethanol Frequent Fuel Card Available

This week, with support of the American Lung Association and other sponsors, three fueling facilities in the state of Minnesota are offering a Frequent Fuel Card in exchange for ethanol fuel discounts. These retail sites include those in Truman, Lyle and Austin, Minnesota.

The NuMart C-Store at 302 North 5th Street in Truman began giving away the fuel cards today. The first 50 flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) to fill up at the site received the card where after 4 E85 purchases, they will receive a $10 discount off their next purchase of E85.

Read More >>

US Automakers on Track for More Ethanol Vehicles

U.S. automakers also expect to meet a goal of making half their vehicle production flex-fuel by 2012, up from around 30 percent now. But they warn that they could pull back if there aren’t enough gas stations with ethanol pumps.

Availability of ethanol varies widely. There are more than 2,000 U.S. gas stations with E85 pumps or blender pumps that allow drivers to specify the percentage of ethanol they want in their fuel. But that’s less than one in five gas stations in the country, and the vast majority are in the Midwest.

Read More >>

Member Spotlight — Gerstner Oil Company

Gerstner Oil Company has recently joined the Growth Energy Market Development team as new members. Family owned and operated by Rudy Gerstner and his wife Kathie, Gerstner Oil was first established in 1976. Gerstner Oil has changed distributors many times since 1979 and today they are branded Valero and Cenex.

Gerstner Oil currently has two convenient stores that it owns and operates, along with a cardtrol and 2 bulk plants. They have a total of 20 employees and 300 customers. Gerstner Oil is a supplier of fuels that has around 22 dealers. They are located at 300 East Highway 50 in Yankton, SD.

Read More >>

New and Renewed Growth Energy Market Development Members

Country Mark
Brabham Oil
Appel Oil
Midway Services, Inc.
Drum Oil & Propane
Skyline Petroleum

Read More >>

New E85 and Blender Pump Stations

There are currently a total of 2,164 E85 stations and 162 blender pump stations.

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

Shell Quik Mart #40	250 Whigham Dairy Road	Florence	AL
Jet Pep #323	2920 Noccalula Parkway	Reece City	AL
Country Partners Cooperative	424 North 14th Street	Ord	NE
Twin Oil- Sunoco	2501 Orange Ave	Ft Pierce	FL
Twin Oil- Sunoco	2681 SW Fondura St (Galtin Blvd)	Port ST. Lucie	FL
JCW Petroleum	3820 Craig Road	North Las Vegas	NV
Carey Mini Mart	1504 Carey Ave	Las Vegas	NV
Go Green Sunoco	3000 Dunckel Rd	Lansing	MI
Road Trip Oasis	3034 W Lansing Rd	Perry	MI
Boyett Petroleum	9th Street and Codoni	Modesto	CA
Chevron	Paseo Padre Pkwy & Stevenson Blvd	Fremont	CA
Kum & Go	816 West Monroe Ave	Lowell	AR

Read More >>

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.