News Archive - 01/2010

Blendstar to Launch Biofuel Transload Terminal in Louisiana

Source: Blendstar

Blendstar, LLC proudly announces the launch of a biofuel transload terminal to distribute ethanol and biodiesel in Bossier City, Louisiana, a suburb of Shreveport. The facility is expected to open in late January with capacity to serve the local market as well as future growth related to increased demand as a result of higher blends of biofuels in the U.S. fuel supply. Fuel distributors in Northern Louisiana, Southern Arkansas and Eastern Texas will be able to obtain high-quality ethanol and biodiesel at the terminal, located on 4800 Viking Drive, Bossier City, LA.

The Bossier City facility will be a common stock terminal with direct rail access via the Kansas City Southern Railroad and will offer rail to truck offload services, as well as customized services dependent on customer needs.

"We are committed to providing the most cost-effective access to biofuels to our customers so they in turn meet the demands of their customers," said Matt Griswold, president of Blendstar, LLC. "With Bossier City and other strategic terminal locations across the Southern U.S., Blendstar is able to extend our ethanol and biodiesel offerings to improve blending efficiencies in numerous markets."

With the addition of the Bossier City terminal, Blendstar will soon operate nine biofuel terminals in seven states.

The Bossier City terminal will be open 24 hours, 7 days a week.

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Growth Energy Announces Partnership at Washington Auto Show

Source: Growth Energy

WASHINGTON, DC — It was announced today at the Washington Auto Show that Ricardo and Growth Energy are to collaborate on a project which will bring together for the first time the shared skills and expertise of a global leader in automotive and clean energy technology with America’s foremost body representing US ethanol.

Together these two partners aim to demonstrate that a highly optimized engine fueled on ethanol can provide a cost-effective, low-carbon, high-fuel economy alternative to fossil fuel.

Two demonstrator vehicles are to be produced incorporating Ricardo’s EBDI engine technology, showing that even for larger vehicles, extreme optimization of ethanol combustion can enable engine downsizing of the order of 50 percent and still deliver substantial fuel economy and CO2 emission improvements from a cost-effective, high performance, inherently low emission powertrain. Based on test work already carried out, Ricardo estimates that a fuel economy improvement of up to 30 percent is possible with no loss of power or performance, using a downsized EBDI engine in place of currently available gasoline powertrain technology.

The project will use Ricardo’s EBDI flex fuel engine, developed from a production V6 gasoline engine, to repower two GMC Sierra 3500 HD pickup trucks, each with a curb weight of 6000lbs. Ricardo and Growth Energy have the objective of demonstrating through this project:

• the market-readiness Ricardo’s EBDI technology, which optimizes flex-fuel vehicles to burn ethanol with consumer value, horsepower and fuel economy that is comparable to gasoline, and;
• domestic ethanol’s potential, as a high-octane, low-carbon and renewable fuel, to lessen American dependence on gasoline refined from carbon-heavy oil imported from overseas at growing risk to US economic and national security.

Following completion of the ten month project, the demonstrator vehicles will be available for a range of demonstration, test and evaluation exercises to be organized by Growth Energy and Ricardo.

View images from the Auto Show at Growth Energy's flickr page: GrowthEnergy.org/flickr.

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FFV Powered by Waste at Washington Auto Show

Source: DomesticFuel.com

The Washington Auto Show, operating as the “Public Policy Show”, plans to showcase many new and exciting automobiles. For the first time, flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) powered by government waste will be displayed by Novozymes, the world’s largest enzyme producer for advanced biofuels.

According to their press release, the group will offer an opportunity of a Ride n’ Drive on January 26 — a test drive of a Chevrolet HHR powered by E85 made from paper waste. The Ride ‘n Drive will allow media, government officials and other VIP guests can to drive the vehicle between 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Novozymes will make an address to the crowd from 2:35 – 2:45 p.m.

The Washinton Auto Show will officially begin January 27 and conclude January 31. It will take place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center at 801 Mount Vernon Place, N.W. in Washington, DC 20001. Novozymes will display a FFV Ford F150 inside the convention center on these days.

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USDA, Navy to Work on Advanced Biofuels

Source: DomesticFuel.com

The USDA and the Department of the Navy (DoN) have agreed to work together to develop advanced biofuels and other renewable energy systems.

This USDA press release says the agreement is part of the government’s plan to build a clean energy economy, create new jobs and reduce American dependence on foreign oil, while building a strike force that will run on green power in the near future:

Secretary of the Navy, Ray Mabus emphasized how partnering with USDA supports his vision for energy reform. Mabus’ overarching goal is to increase warfighting capability. “In order to secure the strategic energy future of the United States, create a more nimble and effective fighting force, and protect our planet from destabilizing climate changes, I have committed the Navy and Marine Corps to meet aggressive energy targets that go far beyond previous measures.”

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Ethanol Vital to Nebraska’s Economy

Source: Nebraska Ethanol Board

With last week's announcement of a record-breaking corn harvest, the role of ethanol as a backstop against plummeting corn prices and a cornerstone of Nebraska's agricultural economy became more evident.

"Ethanol provides guaranteed demand for corn producers," said Todd Sneller, Nebraska Ethanol Board administrator. "Ethanol is an ideal industry for Nebraska because of rural job growth and support of agriculture, the largest sector of Nebraska's economy."

A recent industry survey by Ethanol Producer Magazine found that 83 percent of ethanol plant employees make over $40,000 per year, and 99 percent have health insurance. Many of the 23 Nebraska ethanol plants are located in smaller communities where quality jobs are essential to economic stability.

The resiliency of the ethanol sector was again illustrated when Zeeland Farm Services bought the idle ethanol plant in Cambridge. ZFS plans to resume production there during the first quarter of 2010, employing 30 full time workers. Aventine Renewable Energy announced it will resume construction at its Aurora West site, slated to begin production in 2011. The combined production of the two plants is expected to exceed 150 million gallons of ethanol annually. Corn purchases at the two plants will increase demand by nearly 60 million bushels per year.

Nebraska ethanol plants already create an annual demand for over half a billion bushels of corn, and have directly created over 1,000 jobs in Nebraska. A 2009 study by the Nebraska Public Power District found that the indirect impact of the ethanol industry has created over 3,000 jobs and $3 billion in economic activity in Nebraska. Ethanol production at the Cambridge and Aurora locations will add to the impact of ethanol production in Nebraska. A federal standard for renewable fuel use will further increase demand for ethanol during the next several years.

"The Nebraska Legislature knew in 1971 that a strong ethanol industry would create good jobs, provide a market for corn growers and low-cost feed for livestock producers, and provide a cleaner, cheaper alternative fuel for drivers," Sneller said.

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1,800 Mile Ethanol Pipeline Plan Unveiled

Plans were disclosed for an 1,800-mile long pipeline, running across Indiana and north of Indianapolis, to carry ethanol made in the Midwest to new markets for the fuel in the eastern United States.

If financing can be secured, the $4 billion project proposed by POET Ethanol Products, based in South Dakota, and Magellan Midstream Partners in Texas would carry about 3.6 billion gallons a year of the fuel made from corn and cellulose products.

The ambitious project — the first long-distance pipeline to carry ethanol in the country — is projected to create 80,000 jobs in the construction, and then 1,100 permanent jobs to operate it.

It would be at least four years before the 20-inch diameter line, collecting ethanol from farms and regional ethanol plants from South Dakota to New Jersey, would be ready to operate.

The part of the pipeline that would cross Indiana would require the acquisition of some property but would largely use the existing route of the Buckeye petroleum pipeline. It would loop around the north side of the Indianapolis metro area.

New E85 and Blender Pump Stations

As of this publication, there are 2,102 E85 stations. Three new E85 facilities have opened since our last newsletter.

If you know of an E85 station we do not have listed at www.e85refueling.com, please contact us at marketdevelopment@growthenergy.org.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Growth Energy and our partners have established a financial assistance fund that may be accessed by retail sites to assist with offsetting a portion of the cost of installation of new flexible fuel pumps. Rather than just talk about them, we're going to assist with paying for them! Our primary objective is to assist with the installation of systems that will dispense E10, E20, E30 and E85. To discuss the availability of the program and your interest in participation, please contact Phil Lampert at Plampert@growthenergy.org or 573-635-8445 ext. 11.

New and Renewed Growth Energy Market Development Members

We would like to thank these organizations for their continued support of Growth Energy:

Volkan Petroleum, Inc.Aspinwall Cooperative Company (renewed for 2011)
Daniels Sentry ExpressLuebbering Oil Company
MFA Oil CompanyPropel Fuels
Speedy Q MarketsStar Fuels Centers, Inc.
Two Rivers Cooperative

Should you wish to join Growth Energy, contact marketdevelopment@growthenergy.org.

Member Spotlight: Gulf Oil

Gulf Oil LP, a subsidiary of Cumberland Farmers Inc. and a previous member of the NEVC, has recently renewed its membership with Growth Energy Market Development.

Gulf Oil Corporation was established in 1901, along with an oil discovery in Spindletop, Texas. The Northeast distribution assets and brand license of Gulf Oil Corporation were acquired by Cumberland Farms in 1986.Today, Gulf Oil LP is a premier gasoline brand throughout the Northeast with approximately 2000 branded locations. Gulf Oil LP is a regional market leader in petroleum and alternative fuel distribution. Cumberland Farms, a privately-held company, began in 1939 as a two-cow dairy farm. Today it is a large convenience store operator with approximately 600 Company-operated and 400 dealer-operated stations spanning 11 states across the northeast and Florida.

There are a number of reasons why they chose to join Growth Energy Market Development says Laura Scott, the Vice President of Strategic Planning and Business Development for both Cumberland Farms and Gulf Oil LP, "For environmental, economic, and security driven, the world will need to develop alternatives to compliment or in some cases replace traditional fossil fuels. Gulf does not know what form of energy will prove to be optimal. Therefore, we believe a number of different technologies should be investigated and tried in the pursuit to find that new source. Biofuels are one option available to the market today. We believe we should do our part to make options available to the public. For this reason we have chosen to install E85 dispensing capability at a small number of our stations on a trial basis."

She went on, "The desire to make choices available to our customers, combined with state and federal support that limits our financial risk, convinced us to install E85 dispensing capability at nine of our stores is one of the foremost reasons why we installed E85 at our fueling facilities."

According to Scott, the most effective way to reach out to consumers is through the major auto manufacturers.

Gulf Oil, LP owns four stations in upstate New York that currently offer E85 as well as either conventional fuel or E10 depending upon market conditions. Five stations on Long Island are slated to have e85 available in 2010.

E85 Stations and FFVs Grow Slowly in 2009

In January 2001, there were only 50 E85 stations across the United States.Now, there are over 2,100 but the increase in stations hasn't been without a few hiccups.A rapid growth in stations occurred in many years, but despite continued increase in FFVs, the growth from 2009 – 2010 was the slowest growth experienced in several years.

Growth Energy is working to reverse this trend through several actions:

• Establishment of a financial assistance program during 2010.We'll be announcing our financial support program during the first week of February.
• Having staff on the ground in 15 states to provide in person assistance to retailers
• Providing financial assistance to the California Ethanol Vehicle Coalition (California is the largest single market for transportation fuels in the Western Hemishere)
• Making available the most experienced team of Market Development professionals in the nation.
• Having access to an Advisory Committee representing equipment manufacturers, auto makers, corn growers, ethanol producers, ethanol marketers, and others.

Contact our team for any technical questions you may have on installing a blender or E85 pump.Please contact our office at 1-877-485-8595 or emailmarketdevelopment@growthenergy.com for more information.

Toyota President Touts Liquid Fuel Demands Will Outnumber Supply

Toyota President Jim Lentz: "Within the next 10 to 20 years, we will not only reach peak oil, we will enter a period where demand for all liquid fuels will exceed supply. A century after the invention of the automobile, we must re-invent it with powertrains that significantly reduce or eliminate the use of conventional petroleum fuels."

Growth Energy would invite Toyota to produce additional vehicles as flexible fuel vehicles. The need for massive FFV production remains critical and would be best served by voluntary production of such vehicles. Senators Harkin and Lugar have introduced the "Choice Act" which will be considered as part a new energy bill. Among other things, the Choice Act requires the mandatory production of FFVs. To review a copy of the Choice Act, you may click here.

Growth Energy Receives DOE Funds for Ethanol Infrastructure

The Dept. of Energy (DOE) announced several grants to advance the installation of E85 and blender pumps. Growth Energy, through our Market Development program, will be receiving $200,000 to install blender pumps in the Norfork-Virginia Beach area of Virginia, and in the Seattle-Bremerton area of Washington.These areas were targeted as they both have large concentrations of FFVs owned by the Federal government with very limited fueling capability.Federal law requires the use of alternative fuels in the federal fleets when retailers offer such fuels within either a 5 mile or 15 minute drive to such sites.We'll locate these new stations to maximize the ability of the federal fleets to use the sites and also for the general public.

In addition to the $200,000 awarded Growth Energy, our partners were awarded an additional $800,000.DMC Green, a member of our Market Development Advisory Committee, was awarded $400,000 to install E85 pumps in central California.The Missouri Corn Growers Association, another member of our advisory committee, was awarded $200,000 to install blender pumps in Missouri, and the Michigan Clean Cities Partnership, which includes our close partner, the Michigan Corn Growers Association, was awarded $200,000 for blender pumps in Michigan.

The Growth Energy Market Development program will work with each of these grant recipients to undertake every effort to ensure that blenderpumps are installed where permitted and that applicable logos, identifiers, and other materials are used consistently.

A complete listing of award recipients can be found by clicking here.

Missouri Corn Receives Federal Grant To Establish Ethanol Corridors

Source: Missouri Corn Merchandising Council

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — With the goal of providing drivers with more choices at the pump, the Missouri Corn Merchandising Council (MCMC) has been awarded a $200,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to expand the number of ethanol stations along major thoroughfares in the Show-Me State.

On Wednesday, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu awarded eight grants to five entities nationwide, investing $1.6 million in fueling infrastructure for ethanol blends. Through the Missouri Ethanol Blends Infrastructure Project (MoEBIP), 16 blender pumps (pumps that dispense ethanol blends ranging from 10 to 85 percent, as well as regular gasoline) are to be installed across the state, with the potential to displace an estimated 10.1 to 15.1 million gallons of petroleum.

“There was stiff competition in the Expansion of Ethanol Infrastructure category of this DOE grant,” said Gary Clark, MCMC senior director of market development. “Missouri Corn is honored to have our proposal be one of a handful of entities selected nationwide. We look forward to leading the charge in growing Missouri’s use of renewable fuels.”

The blender pumps will be installed across five major fueling corridors in the state, focusing on regions with large numbers of Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs). FFVs are able to run on regular unleaded gasoline, E85 (blend of 85 percent ethanol, 15 percent gasoline) and any blends in between. With 115 of the state’s 4,200 fueling stations currently offering E85, the project will expand fueling options for FFV drivers along portions of I-70, I-44, I-29, Hwy 40/61 and Hwy 63.

“This project is great for Missourians,” said Clark. “Not only are we supporting a farmer-owned ethanol industry and solidifying an alternative fuel market, we will be providing more choices for consumers and helping reduce our dependence on foreign oil.”

Additional investments will be made by the project’s current partners. In addition to Missouri Corn, participating entities include St. Louis Regional Clean Cities, MFA Oil, Wallis Companies and Warrenton Oil Company.

“It is exciting to envision the new avenues for partnership this award brings,” concludes Clark. “The DOE grant allows us to pull together the state’s ethanol plants, fuel suppliers and retail outlets in one concerted effort with consumers winning in the end.”

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DMC Green Launches First Alternative Fuel Dealers’ Group

DMC Green, Inc. (a member of the GE Market Development Advisory Committee) has organized their first alternative/renewable fuel dealers' group to support the growing number of DMC Green fuel program dealers now in operation in California. Under the DMC Green brand, these dealers currently offer ethanol, biodiesel and electric car charging in addition to their major oil company fuel brands.

Launched at an inaugural kick-off meeting on January 6, 2010 in Sacramento, the DMC Green Dealers' Group brought together DMC Green's research support teams to support existing gas station dealer-owners that have purchased the turn-key DMC Green alternative/ renewable fuel installation package. The open forum meetings are scheduled to take place 4 times per year.

As a result of the dealers' early success with the DMC Green fuel program in 2009, many dealers say they are now looking for new opportunities where they can integrate the DMC program into other locations. "DMC has been a very supportive partner and their program has exceeded my expectations", says Robert Takhar, owner of Robert's ARCO in Woodland, CA. "Vehicle traffic has definitely increased which increases our fuel sales as well as sales in our AM/PM convenience store."

The DMC Green Dealer's Group meetings provide a working discussion round-table where dealers can stay abreast of the rapid growth and regulatory changes in the green fuel market and where dealers can share experiences with their peers. "More importantly, these meetings help us find ways to increase dealer profitability through our research programs," says Director, Market Development for DMC Green Andy McCargar. Andy also holds and advisory position on the Growth Energy Market Development Committee.

Jasvir Rana, owner of Sunrise Shell in Rancho Cordova, CA, says he is pleased to be a part of the DMC Green Dealer network. "The DMC Green fuel sales have been incremental to our existing petroleum fuel sales. Less than 20% of our biodiesel sales were converted from our existing diesel customers. Not only has this provided new fuel sales overall, but the additional traffic has contributed to increased convenience store sales."

These leading-edge DMC Green fuel dealers will soon be joined by some thirty additional contracted DMC Green dealers that are now being permitted throughout the State of California.

North Carolina Calls for Ethanol Infrastructure Projects for Funding

Source: The North Carolina Solar Center

The North Carolina Solar Center at NC State University has announced a call for projects for $700,000 to award to governments, business, and/or non-profit fleet and fuel providers for transportation related emission reduction projects. The Clean Fuel Advanced Technology (CFAT) Project is a one million dollar initiative of the NC Solar Center (NCSC) funded in part by federal dollars from the NC Department of Transportation (DOT). In addition to providing assistance for emission reduction projects such as purchasing alternative fuel vehicles, installing refueling infrastructure for cleaner burning alternative fuels, retrofits on older diesel vehicles and idle reduction technology, the CFAT project focuses on education and outreach to the twenty-four NC counties that do not meet national ambient air quality standards. Project proposals must be submitted to the NC Solar Center by March 15, 2010.

This is the second round of DOT funding available through the CFAT project. From 2006-2009 over $1.4 million was distributed for 31 projects to a variety of entities including a national park, local governments, school systems, service station owners and a company providing electrified parking spaces at a truck stop to reduce idling in long haul trucks. The CFAT project operates in 24 counties that do not national air quality standards. More than 30% of North Carolinians live in counties that have unhealthy air and transportation related emissions are a primary contributor to the state's air quality problem. "We are pleased to have the opportunity to use federal Congestion Mitigation Air Quality funds for a program that offers such a wide variety of transportation technology solutions to our air quality problems," stated Secretary of Transportation Gene Conti. Project managers anticipate a wide range of applications including funding requests for neighborhood electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, alternative fuel refueling infrastructure, such as natural gas, propane and electricity, retrofits for school buses and other heavy duty diesel vehicles.

Funding assistance is allocated in the form of a reimbursement, which can cover up to 80% of the project cost. In order to by eligible, a project must reduce transportation related emissions within eligible NC Counties. In the Triangle and Charlotte regions the NC Solar Center has partnered with Triangle J and Centralina Council of Governments to provide education, outreach and technical assistance. Guidelines and applications available by clicking on Funding at: http://www.cleantransportation.org.

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Submersible Turbine Pumps (STPs) Now UL Listed for E85 Compatibility

Source: Franklin Fueling Systems

Franklin Fueling Systems is pleased to announce that its submersible turbine pumps (STPs) are now UL listed for use in applications containing ethanol concentrations up to 85 percent, yet another industry-first achievement for the FE Petro brand.

After the rigorous 16-week UL testing procedure in which the FE Petro STP was subjected to demanding exposure testing with aggressive fuel blends, the industry’s leading STP line emerged with positive results to achieve the industry’s first UL approval for STPs to be used in E85 applications.

“There is a certain peace of mind that comes with a third-party approval like the UL listing. Our customers know that our equipment has been put through some very demanding testing in order to achieve that listing. They can be confident when they put our STP in the ground to pump ethanol blends that it will perform to the highest degree,” said Jay Walsh, Vice President of Business Development for Franklin Fueling Systems.

To achieve the UL listing, Franklin Fueling Systems replaced several of the materials that make up the components used in the STP with those that are resistant to corrosion in applications containing ethanol content up to 85 percent. These enhancements include replacing soft or yellow metals with stainless steel as well as replacing the materials used to fabricate gaskets with other fuel resistant materials.

“This UL listing marks a significant achievement for the FE Petro brand as well as the industry itself,” said Walsh. “We feel that this type of future fuel compatibility will only increase across the petroleum equipment industry moving forward. With the EPA showing its support of higher ethanol blends and the current administration’s commitment to strengthening the ethanol fuel infrastructure and vehicle fleet, we feel it is only a matter of time before the demand for products that are UL listed for high concentrations of ethanol blend will begin to significantly increase.”

Franklin Fueling Systems will begin shipping all AG (alcohol gas) compatible STPs with the UL marking and upgrades beginning January 22, 2010. For a complete listing of the UL listed STPs, contact your local Franklin Fueling Systems approved FE Petro distributor.

To download the E85 STP UL Approval Brochure, click here.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is an important step in development of a "holistic" E85 fueling system. While we expect the release of a dispenser in the 2nd Quarter of 2010, submersible pumps have been another critical piece of equipment which has been missing in our efforts to establish certified E85 dispensing systems.

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Letters to Growth Energy

This section will highlight emails and letters Growth Energy has recently received. Many of the comments or suggestions we receive are of interest to a wider audience and we would like to share them with our readers. Comments included in Letters to Growth Energy do not necessarily reflect the views of the organization. Please send your comments and letters to marketdevelopment@growthenergy.org.

New E85 and Blender Pump Stations

As of this publication, there are 2,096 E85 fueling stations across the U.S. including 132 blender pumps. Since the last publication of this newsletter, 171 stations have been added across the U.S. For a complete listing of these stations, go to www.E85Refueling.com.

Member Spotlight: Frank’s Sunoco

Frank's Sunoco has recently joined as a member of Growth Energy Market Development team. The fueling station and food mart is located at 5391 State Road in Parma, Ohio. One of the first leaders in the Biofuels movement, Frank's Sunoco offers E85, B20, regular and unleaded gasoline.

Frank's Sunoco first opened in 1952, operated by Frank Roalofs until 1960 when it became a family business and his son Matthew joined him. Matthew took over the business in 1980 and in the 90's converted the store into a Food Mart.

As gas priced rocketed Matthew wanted a competitive advantage that would set him away from his competitors. "I chose E85 because it burns and runs cleaner, it's good for the environment and it's going to be the future."

According to Matthew, the biggest challenge he finds as a retailer is buying at the right price so that he may sell at the right price.

Matthew has taken advantage of resources from Growth Energy, such as brochures, labels, etc. He also put together a consumer website; as well as advertised a grand opening on a local radio station that attracted many from the suburbs.

Growth Energy appreciates the membership support provided by Frank Sunoco and we applaud them for their very proactive efforts to advance high level blends of ethanol.

To find a complete listing of E85 stations in Ohio and across the nation, visit our comprehensive and accurate fueling station data base at: www.E85Refueling.com.

Attention Retailers! Become a Member of our Team

Clearly, there are changes afoot that will make operating any business more complicated, and the fuel industry is on the frontline of these changes. Savvy fuel retailers are preparing for the future now, in part by incorporating alternative fuels into their offerings.

Uncertain where to begin? The best starting point is to become a member of Growth Energy Market Development team. By becoming a member, you join an informed and involved group of ethanol producers and alternative fuel experts who can help you make the right decisions to ensure your company's long-term future.

Growth Energy members receive assistance with their own alternative fuel efforts, such as installing ethanol blender pumps. Members get complete access to ethanol retailer kits, marketing materials and consumer information brochures. They also are invited to participate in members-only webinars, and they are provided access to exclusive updates and industry information through Growth Energy's members-only intranet site.

Sign up today for your membership by clicking here. For questions, call our team at 1-877-485-8595 or email marketdevelopment@growthenergy.org.

States Offer Additional Infrastructure Tax Credits

In addition to the 50% up to $50,000 infrastructure tax credit that the Federal Government gives retailers for installing E85 pumps, many states offer incentives. Take a look at a few of the states that offer incentives for selling ethanol blended fuels. For a complete listing of state incentives, click here.

Kansas
The state offers an income tax credit for alternative fueling stations placed into service after January 1, 2009. The tax credit, worth up to 40% of the total costs, may not exceed $100,000.

Missouri
An income tax credit is available for the costs of constructing a qualified alternative fuel vehicle fueling station. The tax credit may not exceed the lesser of $20,000 or 20% of the costs directly associated with the purchase and installation of any alternative fuel storage and dispensing equipment.

New York
A state tax credit is available for the installation of alternative fuel vehicle fueling infrastructure located in the state. The tax credit is equal to 50% of the cost of the infrastructure. This includes infrastructure for storing or dispensing an alternative fuel into the fuel tank of a motor vehicle powered by that fuel, as well as infrastructure used for charging electric vehicles.

Louisiana
The state offers an income tax credit worth 50% of the cost of constructing an alternative fueling station.

For questions regarding infrastructure tax credits, contact the Growth Energy Market Development team at 1-877-485-8595 or at marketdevelopment@growthenergy.org.

Blender Pump Tax Fix Sought

Source: Growth Energy

Growth Energy, the coalition of U.S. ethanol supporters, is asking top Congressional tax writers to fix a program that is intended to promote the installation of pumps that dispense mid- and high-level ethanol blends. The problem is an IRS interpretation that retailers are only allowed to take credit for a portion of the new pump — instead of the entire pump.

In letters to the chairmen and ranking members of both the Senate Finance and House Ways and Means committees, Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis said the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit should allow fuel vendors to recapture up to $50,000 or 50%, of the total cost of installing alternative fuel dispensing systems such as ethanol blender pumps.

Buis says Growth Energy's position is that a simple technical correction would go a long way to clarifying the intent of Congress, and clear the way so that retailers can have the tax credits they've been promised to help build out the infrastructure we need to delivery alternative fuels like ethanol.

The full list of 152 sign-on groups is available at GrowthEnergy.org. Read the letter here.

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MSDS Sheets for Ethanol Blends

In order to ensure chemical safety in the workplace, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires that information be available to employees and others regarding the identities and hazards of all chemicals stored and used in a workplace. OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) requires the development and dissemination of such information in the form of a Material Data Safety Sheet (MSDS). Growth Energy and our partners have recently developed a Material Safety Data Sheet for blends of 20 percent ethanol (E20) and 30% ethanol (E30). A MSDS sheet is also available for E85. It is important that each retailer offering such blends print copies of this information and display this in a prominent location available to employees, should you offer these blends. Click here to view the sheets.

Please, contact the Growth Energy Market Development Team at 877-485-8595 or atmarketdevelopment@growthenergy.org should you have any questions.

Audit Finds Too Few Biofuel Pumps to Fill Tennessee State Vehicles

Source: Commercial Appeal

Tennessee state agencies missed the Jan. 1 goal of cutting gas and diesel use because of gaps in the supply of biofuels, according to recent state audit.

Legislation enacted in 2007 required all state agencies, universities and community colleges that have more than 10 cars to develop a plan to increase the use of alternative fuels and synthetic lubricants and switch to fuel-efficient or low-emission vehicles.

The recent audit by the Comptroller of the Treasury found that only the Tennessee Board of Regents' central office has met the goal. Other agencies, like the Department of Transportation and the Department of General Services, said they have had difficulties finding biofuels across the state.

Alan Jones, manager of the environmental policy office at TDOT, said there are still some big gaps between commercial biofuel pumps across the state, including much of West Tennessee and around Chattanooga.

"The 20 percent reduction was a challenging goal," he said.

According to TDOT, there are just 33 pumps across the state selling B20, a blend of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent petroleum diesel fuel. Another 27 pumps provide E85, a blend of up to 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.

In West Tennessee there are just two locations that sell B20 and none that sell E85.

Jones said it's a difficult problem because gas station owners won't sell biofuels until there's a demand, but there won't be a demand until there are more vehicles on the road that can use biofuels.

About 9 million cars on the roads today are flexible fuel vehicles, meaning they can use E85 or regular petroleum fuel, he said.

"A lot of those vehicle owners continue to use 100 percent unleaded and in fact, surveys have shown that a lot of those vehicle owners don't even realize they can use E85," he said.