News Archive - 09/2010

EPAC Hosting Free Ag Biofuels Summit

The Ethanol Producers and Consumers (EPAC) is hosting an Agricultural Biofuel Summit on October 19 & 20, 2010 at the MSU Northern Bio Energy Center. The focus of the Summit will be wheat and barley ethanol production using small grains. Discussions will also focus on barely research and development, the Appomattox Barley to Ethanol plant model, biofuels and biodiesel in agricultural business, biodiesel products and warranties, the closed loop system of ethanol production, and more. Additional partners involved in the event include the Montana Department of Agriculture, Bear Paw Development Corporation, Montana Economic Developers Association, and the MSU Northern Bio Energy Center.

Of special interest will be speaker Craig Shealy, President of OSAGE BioEnergy who will present the Appomattox Barley Ethanol Plant model. The plant, which is scheduled to go online in November, will become the first working barley to ethanol plant in the country. Additional speakers include Phil Madson, President of KATZEN International, who served as the construction and service provider for OSAGE.

Also speaking is Bruce Nelson, Farm Service Agency State Executive Director, who will conduct a brief community outreach forum focusing on the 2010 USDA Biofuels Strategic Production Report. The presentation will follow the Biofuel Summit. Nelson chairs USDA’s Montana Food and Agriculture Council.

Individuals including agricultural producers, consumers, biofuel distributors, educators, students, livestock producers, and financing institutions are especially encouraged to attend. The event is open to the public and is free to attend compliments of funds provided by a Growth Through Agriculture Grant from the Montana Department of Agriculture. Registration forms and additional information is available at the EPAC website at www.ethanolmt.org, or by calling 1-406-785-3722.

Member Spotlight – Brabham Oil Co.

Brabham Oil Co., Inc recently renewed its membership within Growth Energy Market Development. They are a 3rd generation fuel marketer that began business in 1929. Brabham Oil was founded by the late Clarence Brabham and taken over by the late Robert McCully in the 1960’s. In 1962, the business was incorporated, with Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Brabham as President and Vice-President.

In 1970, Brabham retired and McCully assumed managing control of the company. In the 1980's, the business added British Petroleum, Shell, and Chevron as primary wholesale suppliers. In the late 1980's, the company added McCully's sons, Robert McCully, Jr. and Clarence B. (Brab) McCully to the management team. Under this family management through the 1990's, the company grew the E-Z Shop chain of convenience stores to be one of the largest and most recognized chains in S.C.

At the turn of the century, the company realized a need for a private label gasoline brand to compete in the marketplace and to meet a growing value oriented customer base. The Horizon brand was developed to meet this need, and has grown to serving over 30 locations across South Carolina today. Brabham Oil Company, Inc. owns all rights to the Horizon brand developing it for use at its own EZ Shop locations, as well as customer locations it supplies.

Brabham Oil Company, Inc. is currently managed by Clarence B. (Brab) McCully and has grown into a 28 store chain and wholesale marketer predominantly operating in the lower half of South Carolina

“It only makes sense to create jobs here by selling greener alternative fuels grown here instead of imported from other countries,” noted Brab McCully. “We pride ourselves in bringing into South Carolina fuels made in America and providing an alternative to the consumer. We sell E10 at all of our facilities. We were the first to introduce E85 in the lower part of our state and are proudly the leading marketer of this product in our market. We feel the pressure from Big Oil attempting to thwart our efforts to promote E85 and ethanol in general. It is refreshing to be marketing renewable fuels and helping South Carolina and the U.S.A. become more energy independent.”

The company’s primary interest in joining Growth Energy Market Development was to have a unified voice in the industry. McCully went on, “Any alternatives to Big Oil’s existing slate of petroleum products must not be controlled by them. They have no interest in promoting E85 and only sell ethanol because they have to, in order to complete with it. We rail in our own ethanol and blend it outside the gasoline terminals to provide the most competitive price to the end consumer. South Carolina has proudly passed a law stating the gasoline terminals can't pre-blend ethanol without also offering an unblended product. This prevents Big Oil from being able to dictate where they get the ethanol from and what they charge the consumer for it. This law has vastly increased competition and thereby benefited the motorists in our state. I am in favor of stepping up efforts to increase consumer's awareness of the benefits of using E85 instead of traditional fuels. I am not in favor of reducing the excise tax incentive for ethanol as without it we could not have grown to where we are today.”

He added, “We have to be able to compete and as you know it is not Big Oil growing E85 pumps and other alternative fuels. Independent distributors around the country such as ourselves are the reason for its growth. Help the ones that want to sell it and don't force it on the ones that don't.”

New E85 and Blender Pump Stations

There are currently a total of 2,258 E85 stations and 210 blender pump stations.

New E85 and blender pumps as of the last newsletter:

** represents Blender pumps

New and Renewed Growth Energy Market Development Members

Bazco Petroleum Transport
Folk Oil Co.
 

2011 Ford F-150 5.0-liter V-8 Gains Power Burning E85 Ethanol

Source: PickupTrucks.com

Want to add power to Ford's all-new 5.0-liter V-8 for the 2011 F-150 without making a single hardware or software change? Just burn E85 ethanol fuel.

The 5.0 is rated at 360 horsepower (at 5,500 rpm) and 380 pounds-feet of torque (at 4,250 rpm) running on regular unleaded gasoline. It's positioned as the midrange, high-volume engine choice for the F-150, below the more powerful 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 (365 hp and 420 pounds-feet of torque) and conventional large-displacement 6.2-liter V-8 (411 hp and 434 pounds-feet of torque).

But the 5.0 is also flex-fuel capable. Flexible-fuel vehicles are designed to run on gasoline or a blend of up to 85 percent ethanol (E85).

Burning E85 fuel boosts 5.0 engine power to 375 hp and 390 pounds-feet of torque, said Mike Harrison, Ford's program manager for V-8 engines.

Ethanol has a higher octane and heat-of-vaporization point than gasoline, meaning it combusts at a higher temperature and with greater force (higher compression) than gasoline, while also having a greater capacity to cool the fuel/air mix in the cylinder before combustion. This inherent efficiency is what enables the 5.0 to produce more power while burning E85 instead of regular unleaded fuel.

There's a trade-off, though. Even though E85 combusts with greater force, it has less energy per gallon than regular unleaded gasoline, so fuel economy is worse when burning E85.

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DF Cast: Cal. Grants for Ethanol, Biodiesel Infrastructure

Source: DomesticFuel.com

It’s an issue we’ve talked about before … plenty of ethanol and biodiesel and vehicles that can burn the green fuels but not enough infrastructure to support those cars’ and trucks’ needs. But a little help from the government is changing that in one of the largest concentrations of privately-owned vehicles … and incidently, one of the largest concentrations of flex-fuel vehicles in the country … California.

Matt Horton is the CEO of Propel Fuels, a California-based company that provides E85 ethanol and biodiesel to existing stations. He says having the types of pumps that can handle those fuels is biggest problem.

“One of the key challenges in the alternative fuels and biofuels market in particular being the lack of infrastructure to provide everyday customers with access to the fuels.”

He says there are plenty of flex-fuel vehicles that can burn E85 ethanol and plenty of diesel vehicles able to use biodiesel. But the infrastructure to provide these biofuels and the public’s awareness that they can use ethanol in their flex-fuel vehicle are lacking. To fix that, Propel has received $11 million in state and federal grants to put in 75 E85 ethanol pumps in California. Anthony Eggert sits on the California Energy Commission (CEC). He says the state’s portion of the money … about four million dollars … comes fromCalifornia’s Alternative and Renewable Fuels and Vehicle Technology program … also known as AB 118, named for the enabling legislation that created it. He justifies the tax money spent on this program as just a drop in the bucket compared to what consumers have to spend on non-renewable, petroleum-based fuels.

“It’s around $100 million per year for the CEC to invest in a portfolio of non-petroleum fuels to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower our petroleum dependency and improving our energy security. In California alone, we spend approximately $150 million per day on gasoline and diesel fuel.” He says the impact on the economy due to volatile fuel prices, as well as environmental issues and the vulnerability to foreign nations that might not always be the friendliest, makes the grant money well spent. Plus, it will pay dividends in the form of new jobs, less foreign oil and more money in consumers’ pockets.

You can listen to the Domestic Fuel Cast here. Domestic Fuel Cast

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Growth Energy Partners with United Famers Cooperative to Install Two Blender Pumps in Nebraska

Source: Growth Energy

Blender Pumps Will Provide Consumers with Greater Access to Mid Level Blends of Ethanol

WASHINGTON, DC — Growth Energy, the coalition of U.S. ethanol supporters, has partnered with the United Farmers Cooperative to install two blender pumps in Shelby, Neb. The new blender pumps are located at 600 East Hwy 92, and have been installed with assistance from Growth Energy’s 2010 E85 and Blender Pump Program.

“Every blender pump we install gives consumers a choice at the pump that includes domestic, renewable ethanol,” said Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis. “Growth Energy is pleased to have been able to assist in the United Farmers Cooperative in their efforts and we remain committed to assist with the addition of more blender pumps across the nation.”

“UFC’s decision to install blender pumps versus upgrading with traditional pumps and adding E85, is all about giving our customer the ability to support the ethanol programs and still have the flexibility to chose based on his or her blended preference,” said Dick Munn, United Farmers Cooperative Vice President of Energy.

United Farmers Cooperative has become part of Growth Energy’s 2010 E85 and Blender Pump Program, offering funds to retailers for the alternative fuel infrastructure. To find a listing of all E85 sites throughout Nebraska and across the nation, go to www.E85Refueling.com.

For more information on the 2010 Growth Energy E85 and Blender Pump Grant Program, contact the Growth Energy Market Development office at 1-877-485-8595 or at scourter@growthenergy.org.

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E85 Ethanol Magic – How it Works as an Alternative Fuel

Source: WuShu

Using E85 Ethanol as an alternative fuel has become almost a rage in the United States. There is a new trend towards making our transportation needs more environmentally friendly. As global warming is becoming a growing concern, more and more people want to do their part to make sure that we have a world to live in for the next 2,000 years. Using E85 Ethanol as an alternative fuel for your vehicle is a great way to start.

E85 Ethanol is a product that contains 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. Ethanol is basically a grain alcohol that is made from corn, soybeans, and even plant waste and trash like paper. Besides its superior performance characteristics, ethanol burns cleaner than gasoline; it is a completely renewable, domestic, environmentally friendly fuel that enhances the nation’s economy and energy independence.

Today, the U. S. imports more than half of its oil and overall consumption continues to increase. By supporting ethanol production and use, U.S. drivers can help reverse that trend. Using E85 Ethanol as an alternative fuel source can reduce pollution. Government tests have shown that E85 vehicles reduce harmful hydrocarbon and benzene emissions when compared to vehicles running on gasoline. E85 Ethanol can also reduce carbon dioxide (CO2), a harmful greenhouse gas and a major contributor to global warming.

Although CO2 is released during ethanol production and combustion, it is recaptured as a nutrient to the crops that are used in its production. Unlike fossil fuel combustion, this unlocks carbon that has been stored for millions of years, use of ethanol results in low increases to the carbon cycle. E85 Ethanol as an alternative fuel also degrades quickly in water and, therefore, poses much less risk to the environment than an oil or gasoline spill.

There are many vehicles on the market today that are already E85 Ethanol compatible, so you can use this as an alternative fuel to gasoline. A second option is to have your current car converted from a gasoline engine to an E85 Ethanol compatible engine. You will want to have this conversion done by a licensed mechanic, but it can be done!

We all know that there is a trend toward using alternative fuel to help the environment, and E85 Ethanol is one of the first ones to contribute toward that trend. It is currently available in many places and can do wonders for improving your car’s efficiency as well as your wallet. With the rising price of gasoline, it’s really a good idea to explore E85 Ethanol as an alternative fuel source for your vehicle.

Abhishek is an avid Environmentalist and he has got some great Alternative Fuel Secrets up his sleeves! Download his FREE 70 Pages Ebook, “Energy Conservation And Alternative Fuel” from his website http://www.Wonder-Homes.com/643/index.htm . Only limited Free Copies available.

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Behind the wheel: Holden Commodore E85 Ups Biofuel Ante in Australia

Source: Parramatta Advertiser

THERE are many paths to low emission driving including hybrid petrol/electric vehicles, pure electric vehicles, hydrogen power, low emission diesel, small capacity, force-fed high-efficiency petrol engines and others. In the run-up to the Volt electric vehicle in about 18 months, Holden’s route to low emissions and environmentally sensitive driving is through ethanol, E85 Bioethanol to be precise.

It’s a blend of ethanol 85 per cent to petrol 15 per cent, made by Caltex with a higher octane rating than 98 Premium fuel but less “calories” meaning you use more for a given amount of driving. Holden says the “well to wheel reduction in emissions is up to 40 per cent.”

The stuff is getting closer to environmental sustainability being produced from a renewable crop or eventually from garbage.

But with Holden making all its new VE Series II Commodore 3.0-litre V6 and 6.0-litre V8 engines E85 compatible (3.6 V6 following soon), the question is what are they like to drive?

Answer ... better in the 3.0-litre V6’s case and pretty much the same in the V8’s case. Holden says there’s a six per cent performance gain on Bioethanol.

The good thing is that these engines have been modified to run on pretty much any combination of petrol and ethanol but probably not 100 per cent ethanol if you could get it here.

It means you are not locked into one fuel and if Bioethanol isn’t available or you don’t want to use it, what you put in the tank is pretty much irrelevant as long is it’s petrol or ethanol or a blend of the two.

E85 has been used in the US for some time with no problems so it’s local appearance was overdue.

Holden, Caltex and other stake holders are in the planning stages of a new ethanol plant here using garbage as the source material. The current supply is a plant derivative from grains.

To make its engines E85 compatible, Holden engineers have installed harder valves and use a remapped engine computer along with minor changes to seals and the exhaust system. The direct injection V6 is an ideal E85 recipient while the OHV V8 could have been a bit more difficult to harness.

Holden has started using low rolling resistance tyres with its new Series II along with aero panels underneath to smooth air flow.

The airconditioning compressor now has a clutch to disengage it when it’s not needed and idle speed has been reduced.

The 3.0-litre is rated at 9.1 litres/100km.

More important is improved throttle response from this engine which gives more punch across the entire engine speed range particularly mid rev range where most driving is done.

The previous model was disappointing in this regard, not so the new E85 model.

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NIACC Students Convert Government Fleets for Flex Fuel Compliance

MASON CITY, Iowa — In a NIACC classroom students are preparing cars for the future. Student heath Tulp says that means less dependence on foreign products and more Iowa grown ethanol.

"It's pretty interesting and it's easy to install too and it's not really that hard. The hardest thing is the wiring and even then it's not that hard."

They are putting in a supplemental fuel injection system. It adds fuel as needed so the car can run smoothly on both gas and E-85. When flex fuel inventor Mitch Sremac started developing the system four years ago, it was their way of creating a more environmentally friendly future.

"We are tired of paying people that don't like us overseas for their oil. So what we want to do is trying to keep the money here in the United States."

And these guys are the first class at NIACC to learn the conversion process. Sremac made sure when he invented the system to make it user friendly

"To make it easy enough to install by most technicians and be able to keep the car running and meet emission standards."

Knowing these skills is giving them a step up from the competition when it comes to finding jobs.

Only 10% of cars are originally manufactured to handle both gas and E-85, meaning these students have a lot of converting to do.

Watch the KIMT News video at KIMT.com.

Gasoline Trumps Electricity in Fuel-Efficient Auto Contest

Source: Environment and Energy Publishing (via the New York Times)

The cars of the future have shown themselves, but it's not clear whether Americans will like them.

Yesterday, contest organizers crowned the winners of the first Progressive Automotive X Prize, a one-year race to design an ultra-efficient car that's "safe, affordable and desirable."

Among the final contestants were cars getting 80, 120, even 180 miles per gallon equivalent. They assumed strange shapes, some sprawling on the ground like stingrays, others compact as books. They ran on batteries, ethanol and gasoline. In the end, it was a gasoline engine that triumphed.

The Very Light Car, built by Virginia company Edison2, won the $5 million first prize with 100 mpg and the lowest carbon footprint of all contestants.

Most interesting of all, its gasoline engine, running on E85 ethanol, beat out dozens of electric and hybrid cars, vehicles currently thought to be among the most efficient available.

It's the latest splash in an ongoing tussle with the auto industry: Exactly what is technologically possible, and what are people willing to buy?

According to environmental and consumer groups, the answer is this: Current technology can go a long way, and people will pay more for high-mpg cars. "We're not talking rocket science here. We're talking smart engineering, good auto design," said David Friedman, who directs the Clean Vehicle Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists.

UCS is a member of the Go 60 MPG coalition, a group of environmentalists campaigning to make that the next federal target for fuel economy. Currently, the federal government's corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) target is 35 mpg by 2016. Agencies haven't set the standard for the next stage, which extends to 2025.

The coalition said Americans are on its side: It presented a poll in which two-thirds of respondents favored the 60 mpg target, even if it raised a car's price by $3,000. According to the coalition, that premium would be recouped in four years at current gas prices (E&ENews PM, Sept. 16).

Pound for pound, cars today are far more efficient than their ancestors. But car companies have generally used the fuel efficiency to make cars bigger, heavier and faster.

'Energy density' is what counts

Friedman said auto companies should spend the next 15 years adopting known technologies that save fuel -- many of which are featured in the X Prize contest.

"While these [X Prize] vehicles may not be what we're going to see on the road in the next decade, they really do point to a lot of the ingredients that we need to get to 60 miles per gallon, or more, in the next 15 years," he said.

The auto industry panned the 60 mpg target yesterday. "Just last year automakers supported reaching 35+ mpg by 2016, and before we have even achieved those new heights, the calls have begun to almost double mileage," said Dave McCurdy, president of the Alliance of Auto Manufacturers. "Clearly we live in a period of extreme political volatility, and some groups are promoting their political wish list prior to the elections," he said.

For automakers, the question is how to do it. They have offered more efficient gasoline cars in recent years, but some are betting big on electric and plug-in hybrid cars.

That works well with the White House's support for electric vehicles. But as a matter of chemistry, batteries have far to go before they can rival gasoline.

Energy storage is measured by how much energy can be packed into the smallest mass. Gasoline, which resembles body fat and packs immense numbers of calories into a small space, has far greater "energy density" than even the most advanced batteries.

That's evident in the X Prize's winning car. Oliver Kuttner, Edison2's CEO, said he named the company after Thomas Edison because he had accepted the "conventional wisdom that an electric or hybrid drive is the key to efficiency."

Then he realized something: The Chevy Volt, a plug-in electric car, travels 40 miles on electricity, thanks to a battery weighing 1,000 pounds. Meanwhile, his Volkswagen Jetta travels 40 miles on a gallon of gas -- about 9 pounds.

"So we avoided the hundreds and hundreds of pounds of batteries needed for an electric, and chose a conventional internal combustion engine running on E85," he said in a press release.

Corvette designer makes fuel-sipper

Edison2 didn't stop there. It used ultra-light carbon fiber for the chassis, and it honed the body to minimize drag. Its front wheels weigh 6 pounds each; they're designed to crumple in the event of a crash, an innovation that may itself be worth more than the X Prize, according to Consumer Reports.

The car's so light that a mere brush, 8 pounds of force, moves it.

The X Prize's technical director, Steve Wesoloski, said that "to push Edison2's vehicle down the road takes less force than it would take you to push a four-legged table across a carpeted floor."

But how would it fare in a collision? The car passed X Prize's safety tests, according to Wesoloski, because its team members called on their experience with race cars -- light, uncomfortable, crash-ready race cars.

Lighter materials and smoothed aerodynamics were a common theme in the contest. One team from Thailand showed a photo of a team member lifting half the chassis of its vehicle off the ground.

"We really didn't see huge technological leaps. The technology in the vehicles in the competition is largely available on the market today," Wesolowski said.

He spent 20 years at General Motors designing Corvettes and working in the racing department. When the economy dove, he found himself looking for a job. Colleagues at X Prize offered him a welcome change from auto-industry conventions.

Car companies suffer from "inertia" and bureaucracy, he said, but the X Prize gives people a clear objective and then lets them achieve it however they want. Now, a number of the teams are in touch with the industry to share their innovations.

But even if it's technically possible to beat 60 mpg, there's another variable: consumers.

Small may not be beautiful for consumers

"Is it achievable? Yes. Question is, are people going to want to drive the cars the manufacturers are going to have to put out to do it?" said Kevin Riddell, an automotive analyst for J.D. Power and Associates.

People are buying more fuel-efficient cars, he said, but gingerly. Instead of buying SUVs, they are buying "crossovers" -- cars that are slightly smaller and get better fuel efficiency, but are still pretty big.

When car companies have to meet CAFE standards, they're not measured by what they make, but by what they sell. If they're selling many crossovers, for example, they also have to sell high-efficiency cars to make up for it.

Two obvious candidates: electric-drive cars and super-efficient gasoline cars.

The former remain pricey, and there's not enough charging infrastructure to ease people's concerns about "range anxiety," the fear that they may drive farther than the car is able to go on a single charge, Riddell said.

As for the second approach, he said, "odds are, at least using a standard engine, it's going to be a very small vehicle, and most people will not want to buy it."

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Member Spotlight: CountryMark Stands up for Agriculture by Using Ethanol

To understand this Indiana-based oil company, you have to look at CountryMark’s history.

In the early 20th century, CountryMark entered the petroleum market as a necessity for its members. Farmers were unable to find and purchase quality lubricant products at a fair price, and their expenses consequently ballooned. In 1930, the average farm tractor engine had only a five-year lifespan due to poor lubricants. The cooperative, not surprisingly, took action and began producing its own lubricants.

“The good thing about the co-op was that it was trustworthy, and its people cared about doing the right thing and taking care of their customers,” said Charlie Smith, CountryMark President and CEO. “The co-op was part of the fabric of rural Indiana. It’s that culture and sense of responsibility that helped form what we are today. In the future, we will continue to refine those founding values for the benefit of our member owners, customers and employees.”

Today, CountryMark is Indiana’s only American-owned oil exploration, production, refining and marketing company, and is recognized nationwide as a leader in the distribution of biodiesel and ethanol. The company, still a farmer-owned cooperative, owns and operates 500 miles of crude oil gathering pipeline, a refinery in Mount Vernon, Indiana, and a 238-mile finished fuel pipeline. CountryMark also operates 600 oil wells throughout the Illinois Basin and private labels a complete line of lubricants.

CountryMark fuels and lubricants are distributed to farms, fleets and families through a distribution channel of CountryMark member cooperatives located in Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. These cooperatives manage 180 tankwagon delivery routes, 20 transport delivery routes and 90 commercial and retail fuel sites.

According to CountryMark Sales Manager Steve Thomas, ethanol-blended fuels are an important part of CountryMark’s product offering.

“Ethanol is American-made energy and CountryMark believes strongly in the value of domestic energy to consumers and the country at large,” said Thomas. “CountryMark gasoline products begin with American crude oil, which is then refined at our plant in Mt. Vernon, Indiana. Blending American-made ethanol with that fuel is good for American energy security today and extends the life of American crude oil for future generations.”

In 2008, CountryMark launched its PLUS gasoline line and announced every gallon of this propriety fuel would contain a 10% ethanol blend.

“America needs to look to ourselves to solve our energy challenges, and stop relying on some of the bad actors around the world on whom we’ve become dependent,” said Thomas. “CountryMark is doing exactly that—by stepping forward and offering American-made energy. Our fuel is based on Illinois Basin crude oil, refined in Indiana, and blended with ethanol created by American corn farmers.”

According to CountryMark Vice President of Marketing Jon Lantz, when consumers purchase these energy products they can feel confident that every dime of their energy investment will stay here in the United States.

Lantz added that public education is a key component to the future success of America’s ethanol industry. One ethanol outreach program that CountryMark has participated in for the past five years is the World’s Largest Drive-Thru Breakfast. Held every year at the Indiana State Fair, the breakfast attracts fairgoers in the wee hours of the morning with a breakfast burrito and a gallon of E10 gasoline, donated by CountryMark.

“We see the state fair as a real opportunity to educate the public on the value of ethanol-blended fuels,” said Lantz. “We want the public to experience quality ethanol-blended fuels and we want to be available to the public to answer any questions they may have about ethanol-blended fuels.” CountryMark partners with the Indiana State Department of Agriculture in hosting this ethanol outreach program.

In addition to the E10 blends, CountryMark member cooperatives also own and operate fourteen E85 dispensers located at CountryMark stations in and around the Hoosier state.

“Utilizing corn ethanol and American petroleum means that we, as a country, are utilizing domestic energy sources, keeping dollars in our economy and building energy security for our country and our families,” said Lantz.

CountryMark’s primary interest in joining Growth Energy Market Development was to gain access to technical expertise and promotional materials. “It’s been a good decision for us,” said Thomas. “CountryMark sees value in our membership and what Growth Energy does to provide ethanol education and outreach to the American public.”

For more information about CountryMark, visit www.countrymark.com.

New and Renewed Growth Energy Market Development Members

There are currently a total of 2,243 E85 and 208 blender pump stations.

New E85 and blender pumps as of the last newsletter:

Growth Energy Partners with Sharber Oil Company to Offer High Level Blends of Ethanol in Georgia

WASHINGTON, DC — Growth Energy has joined forces with Sharber Oil Company to introduce higher level blends of ethanol in the state of Georgia. Sharber Oil Company is located at 250 Whigham Dairy Road in Bainbridge 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 across the country install high level ethanol fueling equipment that will provide flex fuel vehicle owners greater access to E85 fuel,” said Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis. “We commend Sharber Oil Company for their efforts and are pleased to assist them in adding this fueling facility.”

Greg Waddell, General Manager of Sharber Oil Company said, “Growth Energy has been an excellent group to work with. They helped us provide a product that we believe will be the future of automotive alternative fuel.”

The Bainbridge station began selling E85 in late May. It is the 39th station in the state of Georgia to offer E85. For a complete listing of E85 stations, visit http://www.E85Refueling.com

For more information on the 2010 Growth Energy E85 and Blender Pump Grant Program, contact the Growth Energy Market Development office at 1-877-485-8595 or at scourter@growthenergy.org.

Flex Fuel US Receives Federal GSA Award to Deliver E85 Conversion Technology to Federal Fleets

Flex Fuel US has developed a new Technology that Transforms Fleet and Passenger Automobiles Into Flex Fuel Vehicles that Facilitate Fleet and Consumer Incentives, Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Support Domestically-Produced Energy

GSA Award #GS-30F-0040W enables low cost compliance with Executive Order 13514

CHICAGO, Ill. – Flex Fuel U.S. ®, has just been awarded approval to sell and install E85 Flex Fuel conversion systems to Federal Government Fleets through the Federal GSA schedule. The system is the first EPA certified product enabling existing cars and light duty trucks to be legally converted to run any blend of gasoline and ethanol up to E85.

To date we have the capability to convert Chrysler Charger/300, Ford Crown Victoria/Grand Marquis/Town Car vehicles and will soon announce a light duty truck. The product can be installed on the vehicle in 2 hours, requires only moderate technical expertise and doesn’t void the warranty on the vehicle. The system is designed and manufactured to the highest quality standards by a team that builds some of the world’s best performing cars. The product is backed by a 24 month warranty covering defects in parts and materials. The owner is fully protected when using higher concentrations of ethanol in the vehicle.

“We believe this new technology provides a valuable tool for fleet managers because it allows vehicles to be retrofitted into alternative fuel at a very low cost. Also if you need a vehicle that’s not offered from the OEM as flex fuel capable, our system can be used.” says Don Althoff, CEO of Flex Fuel US.

Flex Fuel US has a proven track record of success converting vehicles over the last three years. This includes successful fleet demonstration project at the City of Chicago and one underway through the State of Iowa’s DOE Energy Independence Grant. We have proven we can reliably develop, install, and operate E85 conversion systems across multiple vehicle manufactures and engine platforms.”

Flex Fuel US is rolling out conversion systems to federal, state, and municipal fleets to accelerate conversion of legacy vehicles. “We look forward to developing E85 conversion products on vehicles that are not available in Flex Fuel models such as fuel efficient compacts, hybrids and high performance vehicles.” Says Mitch Sremac, founder and inventor.

About Flex Fuel U.S. LLC
Based in Chicago and founded in 2006, Flex Fuel U.S.® is dedicated to the development of future fuel solutions and alternative fuel conversion systems. The company was established by a team of leading experts in digital fuel injection, custom automotive engineering, and automotive aftermarket distribution. Business Week recognized Flex Fuel US as one of “America’s Most Promising Start-ups” because development of this innovative technology.

The company exclusively produces Federal certified, approved and legal conversion systems that do not void original manufacturer warrantees. For more information about Flex Fuel U.S.® or the Flex-Box Smart KitTM, please visit www.flexfuelus.com or contact the company directly at 773-763-7900.

Good News for Owners of Flex Fuel Vehicles

Source: Business Wire

DENVER — TransMontaigne Inc. announced today that E85 will soon become available at seven of its busiest refined petroleum product terminals. E85 is a fuel blend composed of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline by volume and is designed for use in Flex-Fuel vehicles.

Until recently, E85 has been available mostly in Midwestern states that are closer to ethanol manufacturing sites. Owners of Flex-Fuel vehicles have been vocal that this environmentally friendly fuel has not been available on a widespread basis. TransMontaigne's move into E85 product supply will quickly help change that, as many more retail chains will now have a reliable local wholesale supply for this fuel from Florida through the Mid-Atlantic states.

TransMontaigne continues to invest in its comprehensive terminal infrastructure to facilitate the growth of renewable fuels. Initially, TransMontaigne terminals offering E85 will include Port Everglades and Tampa in Florida, Bainbridge and Doraville in Georgia, Greensboro and Selma in North Carolina and Norfolk in Virginia.

Ethanol, the primary component of E85, is mostly transported by rail and by vessel. TransMontaigne, a large petroleum and renewable fuel logistics and distribution company, has invested in the rail and marine infrastructure within its large terminal network to facilitate this offering. To date, TransMontaigne, which holds a BQ 9000 marketing accreditation, has been an early and progressive leader in the distribution and blending of Biodiesel, another major renewable fuel consumed in the transportation industry within the United States.

About TransMontaigne
The Company's principal activities consist of (i) terminal and pipeline operations (ii) marketing and distribution of petroleum products, (iii) renewable fuels marketing and distribution and (iv) managing the activities of TransMontaigne Partners L.P. The Company's customers include refiners, wholesalers, distributors, marketers, and industrial and commercial end-users of refined petroleum products and renewable fuels. Corporate news and additional information about TransMontaigne Inc. is available on the Company's web site: www.transmontaigne.com

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Ethanol Gets Iowa Football Fans Pumped Up

Source: DomesticFuel.com

By Joanna Schroeder

Did you know that 60 cents of each gallon of E85 purchased stays in the state of Iowa? I didn’t know that until I participated in the Iowa Corn Fed Game Day pump rally at Riverside, Iowa to get people “pumped up” for the upcoming Iowa State versus Iowa football game. Another way to look at this is for each gallon of E85 you purchase, 85 cents stays in America; whereas if you purchase E10, only 10 cents stays in America while 90 cents heads out of our borders.

Here are two more interesting facts. Did you know that Iowa is ranked #9 in the country; yet non-ranked Iowa State has the most difficult schedule this year?

And one more…Did you know that Iowa is the leading producer of corn and ethanol in the country? Iowa boasts 40 ethanol plants that produce more than 3 billion gallons of ethanol each year saving consumers money at the pump with each mile they drive.

So where did I learn these nifty facts? From an actual corn farmer, Dick Gallagher, who was on hand to educate consumers about ethanol blended fuels as well as educate consumers about all the products that have corn in them..shirts, biodegradable plastics, carpet, tires, and more. They all use corn as one of their ingredients and whether you realize it or not, our lives would not, and could not, be the same without our corn farmers.

Speaking of our corn farmers, they are growing enough corn to meet all of our needs for food, feed and fuel, both here in America as well as overseas and they are doing it each year using less land.

But let’s hope that Iowa State doesn’t score less than Iowa but scores more than Iowa, but I digress.

Kum & Go was a sponsor of today’s pump rallies and they have been a long-time ethanol supporter. Matt Chase, with Kum & Go told me that 31 of their stores in Iowa sell E85, more than any other retailer, and all of their stations sell E10 blended fuels.

The Iowa Corn Fed Game Day promotion is sponsored by Iowa Corn Growers Association and continues all week long leading up to game day on Saturday. The game begins at 2:30 pm CST but come early. Iowa Corn will have a booth set up at Cross Family Plaza at 10:00 am where they will hosting some fun games as well as the chance to win $5,000 in free food and $2,500 in free ethanol-blended fuel. You can also sign up online at www.iacornfed.com.

And one last cool fact to leave you with….Herky the Hawk is a HUGE fan of ethanol.

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Iowa Corn Fed Game Day Highlights Food and Fuel

Source: DomesticFuel.com

By Joanna Schroeder — DomesticFuel.com

Did you know that Iowa is leading the way in both corn production and ethanol production but corn is not only used for ethanol? It is also an ingredient in more than 4,000 products including toothpaste, pizza, tires, drywall, bubblegum and more. The Iowa Corn Growers realized that many people don’t know this so they have developed a consumer promotion to educate Iowans about corn. It’s called the Iowa Corn Fed Game Day promotion and entails a sponsorship of the Iowa State vs. Iowa football, wrestling and basketball games.

I spoke with Mindy Williamson, the Iowa Corn Growers Director of Communications, to learn more about the benefits of their Iowa Corn Fed Game Day sponsorship. “We like to call it the Super Bowl of Iowa because Iowa and Iowa State is our biggest rivalry here,” said Williamson.

“The Iowa Corn Growers in Iowa wanted to get together and talk about things other than ethanol,” continued Williamson. “We love ethanol as corn growers but we know there are also 4,000 other products made from corn. We want Iowans to know what those are and how those affect their life.”

Williamson said that one benefit of the sponsorship is that it gives them a venue to educate people about how many products use corn. Another benefit is that they want to bridge the gap between food and fuel and this is a way to do that. “There’s not a competition there. There is plenty of corn. We are excellent at growing corn for both markets,” explained Williamson.

Iowa Corn Growers have launched a promotion to bridge that gap along with the Iowa Corn Fed Game Day. They are giving away $5,000 in groceries and $2,500 in ethanol. You can sign up multiple times online at www.iacornfed.comor at the upcoming football game or even during some of the pump rallies leading up to the game which are being held September 7, in and around Iowa City, Iowa.

Flex-fuel vehicle drivers can fill up their tank with E85 for .85 cents and any driver can sign up to win food and fuel. Herky the Hawk will also be there to get everyone jazzed up for the game. If you miss the pump rallies, then come on over to the Cross Family Plaza Friday, September 11 starting at 10:00 am. CT.

Can’t wait to see you there!

You can learn more about the Iowa Corn Fed Game Day events by listening to my interview with Mindy here. Iowa Corn Fed Game Day

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Valero Is Expanding The Availability Of E85 Throughout Its System

Source: Houston Chronicle

Taxi driver Dwight "Barron" Jones zipped into a Valero Corner Store in San Antonio last week when he saw fuel was selling for $2.199 a gallon.

The startling price — 27 cents cheaper than regular gasoline - was for E85, a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent conventional gasoline.

Jones has used the blend in the past at other E85 pumps in San Antonio, and said he was glad to see a new one.

"I think this will save me a little bit of money," said Jones, who owns his taxi, a 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan, and often fills up twice a day.

The use of E85 is about to get more exposure, as San Antonio-based Valero Energy Corp. recently announced it will add E85 pumps to all of its new Valero Corner Stores as they're built throughout its system, as well as at some existing stores when they undergo major renovations.

Houston stores will be affected, but Valero spokesman Bill Day did not have a timeframe for rolling out E85 in the area. Valero doesn't plan to introduce E85 at all existing stores because of the cost of adding new underground storage tanks and dispensers, Day said.

Several Kroger locations and at least two H-E-B stores sell E85 in the Houston area, according to the website of Growth Energy, an association of ethanol producers.

Ethanol is a renewable fuel made from corn or grain products that helps reduce polluting emissions.

Vehicles burning E85 get lower fuel mileage than with gasoline because ethanol has a lower energy density. Yet E85 has a higher octane rating than premium gasoline, and that can boost horsepower.

Many motorists don't realize that conventional gasoline may contain up to 10 percent ethanol, although pumps clearly display that information.

Many auto manufacturers produce flex-fuel vehicles that can run on E85 or conventional gasoline. On-board diagnostic equipment detects which fuel is in the tank so the driver can fill up with gasoline one time and E85 the next without causing a problem - even if the tank still has conventional gasoline in it.

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Help Gulf Coast Move Beyond Oil

Source: DomesticFuel.com

A Florida company is trying to win a $250,000 grant from Pepsi to bring alternative fuels to the Gulf Coast region.

Pura-Vida-Ventures is an independent company based in Sarasota that has a proposal in to Pepsi for a share in $1.3 million they are offering to fund ideas that “refresh the Gulf.” Their concept is to convert a closed gas station into a community resource center, offer biodiesel and ethanol blends, then add electric, hydrogen, or CNG/LPG and offset energy consumption by using solar panels and wind.

We will create an Alternative (to petroleum) Oasis. It becomes a “community center” by offering information and access to a product mix that is unavailable in the marketplace. It will become the local resource for green/eco products and services. It will utilize solar panels to decrease energy consumption, harvest rainwater to diminish its use onsite, and be surrounded by lush native landscaping. The market will engage its customers by offering services such as local volunteer information, educational presentations, and encourage local buying habits.

You can vote for the Pura-Vida plan here and find out more on their Facebook page.

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E15 discussed at 2010 Farm Progress Show

Source: Ethanol Producer Magazine

BOONE, Iowa – Sept. 1, at the 2010 Farm Progress Show, Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis and Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey held a panel discussion to talk about Growth Energy’s Fueling Freedom Plan, the upcoming energy bill and EPA’s pending decision on the E15 waiver.

At the panel, Buis and Northey discussed the critical need for the EPA to approve E15 and open the market for ethanol in order to revitalize our rural economies, clean our skies and support the continued innovation in the ethanol industry.

Approval of the E15 waiver would create 136,000 new green jobs, reduce green house gas emissions equivalent to removing 10.5 million cars off the road and open the market for cellulosic ethanol.

“We don’t have a production problem, we have an access to the market problem,” Buis said. “By moving to E15 and eliminating the artificial barriers to the fuel market we can create a market for all ethanol to reduce our dependence on oil, strengthen our economy and improve our environment.”

“It is vital that Congress and the EPA move forward and approve these needed long-term policy proposals,” Northey said. “It is important that we send a signal to the industry and investors that support structures that will remain in place and allow the industry to continue to advance and adopt new technologies including eventually cellulosic ethanol.”

EPA has announced that they will complete testing on cars 2007 and newer in September and cars 2001 and newer in November.

In order to open the market for ethanol we need to build out the ethanol fueling structure in this country – a proposal outlined in Growth Energy’s Fueling Freedom Plan. The plan, introduced on July 15th, calls for the installation of 200,000 blender pumps and production of as many as 120 million flex fuel vehicles to help open the transportation fuel market and give consumers a choice at the pump.

Growth Energy’s Fueling Freedom plan, once implemented, would create a genuinely free market where consumers can choose between gasoline and renewable, homegrown ethanol.

“No one thought that we could produce this much ethanol, but just like farmers, we have figured out a way to overproduce. Now we need the opportunity to put that ethanol in the market. We have our challenges but we are confident that in an open market, we can succeed,” Buis added.

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Propel Opening More Ethanol Pumps in California

Source: DomesticFuel.com

Propel Fuels is opening more pumps with 85 percent ethanol for California flex fuel vehicle (FFV) drivers.

The company held a grand opening event in Oakland this week to formally launch a network of renewable fuel stations for the Bay Area, which will include more than 20 stations across the Bay, with up to half opening by the end of this year. The event also announced a $10.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and California Energy Commission (CEC) to build and operate 75 retail renewable fuel stations throughout California over the next two years.

At the grand opening, California Energy Commissioner Anthony Eggert (pictured) said the station development project, known as the Low Carbon Fuel Infrastructure Investment Initiative (LCFI3), will help the state with the development and deployment of low carbon fuels and clean vehicles. “The Energy Commission is proud to team up with Propel Fuels and the partner agencies to bring next generation low carbon biofuels, including cellulosic ethanol, to the nearly half a million flex fuel vehicle customers in California, while creating hundreds of green jobs, and continuing to lead the way in our nation’s battle against climate change,” said Eggert.

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