Growth Energy welcomed the words of a top General Motors executive who said that the United States must substantially build out the infrastructure to deliver ethanol to consumers. Growth Energy's position is that increasing the number of blender pumps would give drivers a choice of mid- and high-level ethanol blends in more locations across the country.

"What we've heard from General Motors is what we've been saying at Growth Energy since we were created 18 months ago — if we're going to reduce emissions, clean the air, and put Americans to work in green-energy jobs, we need to give American families a choice of low-emission fuel at their filling stations. At Growth Energy, we believe that means more blender pumps," said Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy. "Ethanol is a low-carbon fuel that produces 59 percent fewer green house gas emissions than gasoline and it is home-grown. Every blender pump we install at a gas station makes our country more energy independent and gives consumers a choice, all while creating jobs in the U.S. and greening our environment."

Tom Stephens, Vice Chairman of General Motors, told a Florida ethanol audience of the need for expanding the ethanol fueling station network across the country in order to take advantage of the flex-fuel vehicles on the road today. "Two-thirds of the pumps are concentrated in 10 states and those 10 states have only about 19 percent of the flex-fuel vehicles that we have on the road," he said.

In the U.S. today, there are about 160,000 U.S. gasoline stations, but only 2,200 pump ethanol blends. Stevens said that by GM's estimate, the country needs to increase the number of stations that carry ethanol blends by 10,000 in order to be within easy reach of today's flex-fuel vehicle drivers.

General Motors and other automotive companies have been adding flex fuel capability to their vehicles to help meet federal targets for the production and consumption of renewable fuels. With ethanol use expected to rise from the current 13.9 billion gallons to 35 billion gallons by 2022, an investment in the infrastructure to deliver ethanol to consumers is essential, Buis said.

First Station in NW Alabama Offers E85

The newly reopened Shell Quik Mart on the corner of East Second Street and Woodward Avenue not only looks new, it offers a new alternative for the Shoals-area. For the first time, flexible-fuel vehicle owners and operators looking to refill their tanks in Muscle Shoals will have a choice to refuel with traditional gasoline grades or E85 ethanol, a blend of eighty-five percent ethanol with fifteen percent gasoline.

"We are pleased to be the first and only station, not only in Muscle Shoals, but all of Northwest Alabama, to offer a renewable fuel alternative for conscientious consumers," said Edwards Oil Company's President, Jonathan Edwards. "Our customers who own flexible-fuel vehicles have been asking for it, and now they have a choice to refuel their vehicles with a product that reduces air pollution, lowers our dependence on foreign oil, and helps support American farmers."

Family-owned since its founding in 1945, Edwards Oil Company of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, has dabbled in renewable fuels since the 1970s. Over the years, the family kept an eye on opportunities to offer their consumers more choices in refueling their vehicles with alternative products that are kinder to the environment and put more dollars back into local economies.

From 2006 through the next few years, oil futures saw one of its most dramatic increases leading to skyrocketing gasoline prices. At the height of the gasoline price-spike, drivers had no choice but to pay as much as $4 per gallon or more. This quickly led to an increase in the number of calls for alternative fuel choices including ethanol and biodiesel.

In 2008, Edwards Oil successfully responded to the challenge by offering E85 ethanol at two stations in Columbia and Lewisburg, Tennessee, while rolling out B20 biodiesel at the Columbia store and a second store located in Shelbyville, Tennessee. That same year, the family underwent the process of converting their entire network of stations to E10, a blend of traditional gasoline that is composed of up to ten percent ethanol. The Shoals Shell Quik Mart is Edwards Oil Company's third station to offer E85 ethanol and their first in Alabama.

"The price of gasoline over the last few years provided the right opportunity for many businesses to look at renewable fuels in order to offer consumers choices," said Mark Bentley, Executive Director of the Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition. "And with ethanol feedstock moving away from corn sources to include other cellulosic materials, businesses getting in early may reap more rewards in the future."

Officials with the Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition, which is the principal coordinating point for alternative fuels in the state, say they have seen a dramatic increase in the development of ethanol infrastructure and use in Alabama.

"In 2006, we had zero stations in Alabama offering E85 ethanol, very few entities that had flex-fuel vehicles, and only a handful of people looking for creative ways to implement ethanol. Today, we have the first station in the Shoals to offer ethanol, our state government and many local communities utilize flex-fuel vehicles, we were part of the nation's first biofuels clean corridor along Interstate 65, and the City of Hoover, Alabama, was the first in the country to turn yard clippings and wood debris into ethanol to fuel their municipal vehicles. What a difference a few years makes!"

Although ethanol and biodiesel have been around for years, these plant-derived fuels have made major quality improvements over the last several decades. While a gallon of E85 ethanol produces less energy measured in BTUs than a gallon of gasoline, benefits of E85 include increased torque and horsepower to go along with reduced ozone forming emissions.

"We and our customers have had good results using the product," Jonathan Edwards said. "We believe that the commitments made by the government and automobile industry will ensure that these products will be around for a long time to come."

Growth Energy provides the most comprehensive and accurate listing of E85 and blender pump locations in the nation. The list of retailers and private access sites is updated DAILY. You may review this site at http://www.e85refueling.com/.

Alabama Biofuels Workshop to Include Growth Energy

The Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition along with the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, Energy Division will be hosting a biofuels workshop on Wednesday, March 17 in Dothan, Alabama.

Growth Energy Market Development Manager Michelle Kautz will outline the future of ethanol blends in Alabama and the United States while others will discuss biodiesel, CNG, propane and electric.

For more information regarding the workshop, click here. Registration is $10 and covers all materials with lunch. To register for the workshop, click here.

Martin-Eagle Oil of Denton, TX Announces Installation of New E85 Fueling Site

In an effort to increase fueling location options for flex fuel vehicle owners, the Martin-Eagle Oil Company announced the installation of a new E85 refueling site located at their headquarters facility at 2700 James Street in Denton, TX. The new site will supply E85 to both retail customers and to wholesale accounts.

Motorists operating flexible fuel vehicles can fuel up at the 2700 James Street location and take advantage of the cost savings of approximately 25 cents per gallon and use a domestically produced renewable fuel.

"We have made a significant investment to establish this new retail site adjacent to our office and look forward to offering E85 to other retail vendors through our wholesale operations," said Stephen Martin, President of Martin-Eagle Oil Company. "E85 can only be used in flexible fuel vehicles that have been designed to operate on high level blends of ethanol, and we calculate there are more than 102,000 FFVS operating in the metroplex. With only 6 current E85 fueling stations throughout the area, we anticipate significant demand for the product once motorists become aware of its availability."

The new fully automated E85 fueling site is open 24 hours and accepts all major credit cards.

According to Martin, "While there is still a great deal of oil produced in Texas, the fact is that we import more than 70% of our transportation fuels. We believe that the use of E85 in flexible fuel vehicles can be part of the solution to both cleaner air and local job creation."

Mindy Mize, Dallas-Fort Worth Clean Cities Co-Coordinator added, "We are very pleased that Martin-Eagle Oil has chosen to open a new E85 refueling facility in the Metroplex. With so many flexible fuel vehicles in the region this new site will add to the fueling location options available to motorists."

Martin-Eagle Oil will also be offering E85 to wholesale customers.

A complete list of vehicles that can operate on 85% ethanol is available by clicking here.

Growth Energy will be working with Martin-Eagle to install additional mid and high level blend facilities across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

Protec Fuel Establishes additional E85 Fueling in FL, GA and AL

Protec Fuel, a Florida-based corporation specializing in turnkey ethanol programs for retailers, fleets and fuel distributors throughout the United States was awarded federal government funds to help install thirty E85 fueling stations. Eighteen of the stations will be located in Florida, ten in Georgia and two in Alabama.

Edwin Flores, President for Urbieta Oil stated that "by expanding to 20 E85 stations in south Florida, Urbieta has made a commitment to our customers. We are empowering them to make a difference for the environment, economy and national security."

Protec Fuel is a fuel management company based in Boca Raton, Florida with its alternative fuel division specializing in turnkey ethanol programs for retailers, fleets and fuel distributors throughout the United States.

Growth Energy Welcomes New Market Development Advisory Committee Members

Growth Energy would like to welcome two new members to our Market Development Advisory Committee. Rhea Courtney Bozic from Clean Fuels Consulting and Mark Bentley of the Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition will each be serving a three year term to assist the market development group with obstacles associated on installation of E85 and blender pumps throughout the country.

"One of our primary objectives is to expand market opportunities for mid-level blends of ethanol by advancing the establishment of blender pump infrastructure. Increasing American motorist's access to ethanol, which is the only practical alternative to foreign oil available today, will help create domestic jobs in communities across the country, strengthen our national and economic security by reducing our dependence on foreign oil and improve the environment," noted Growth Energy CEO, Tom Buis.

Bozic is an environmental scientist and construction manager with experience in a variety of environmental areas, including alternative fuel infrastructure development, fueling facility design and costing, energy and air quality issues, industrial hygiene, and hazardous waste site evaluation. She formed her own consulting firm, Clean Fuels Consulting, in late 2003. Her consulting practice is devoted exclusively to the subject area of clean fuel transportation.

"I welcome the opportunity to assist on the MDC to widen public awareness of the national benefits of ethanol in lessening our dependence on foreign fuel," said Bozic. "As our country moves towards technology improvements that could increase production of cellulosic ethanol, the importance of ethanol produced from feed corn and its benefit to production cooperatives and the rural economy should be recognized. It is an American industry that produces jobs and keeps transportation fuel dollars in the United States."

Mark Bentley has been the Executive Director of the Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition (ACFC) since August 2006. Prior to joining ACFC he was head of Business Development for a major engineering firm located in Birmingham.

"Good partners lead to great projects and that is why we are so excited about being asked to be a member of the Market Development Committee. Partnerships naturally evolve from building strong relationship," stated Bentley. "I feel the relationships we hope to build with members of the Committee will prove extremely beneficial as we continue to build the higher blend ethanol usage in Alabama and around the country through our association with the U. S. Department of Energy's Clean Cities program."

Growth Energy Adds Six New Plant Members

Growth Energy, the coalition of U.S. ethanol supporters, today welcomed six new ethanol producers to its growing list of members. Cardinal Ethanol, Carbon Green Bioenergy LLC, Tharaldson, Redfield Energy LLC, Advanced Bio Energy LLC, and Corn Plus will join Growth Energy's team of 55 Plant Members and 34 Associate Members to help expand the production of domestic ethanol as a means to decrease our dependence on foreign oil and create American jobs at home.

"Since our inception a little more than a year ago, Growth Energy has made great strides on behalf of making America energy independent, cleaning our environment and creating jobs right here in the U.S.," said CEO of Growth Energy, Tom Buis. "Our representation of the ethanol industry continues to grow, as more and more producers see what we are doing on behalf of renewable, sustainable, domestic ethanol. Adding these six ethanol producers to our growing team will help us achieve our goals as we work to grow America's economy through cleaner, greener energy."

Cardinal Ethanol is a natural gas fired plant designed to produce 100 million gallons of ethanol each year along with 320,000 tons of dried distillers grains with soluble. The plant is located in Randolph County, Indiana and employs a staff of approximately 48 full-time employees.

Carbon Green BioEnergy, LLC was developed jointly by Carbon Green, LLC and Energetix, LLC. It is a Chicago-based company dedicated to optimizing biofuel production by improving process efficiency and reducing emissions. The plant, located in Lake Odessa, MI, generates 50 million gallons of ethanol a year.

Tharaldson is located in Casselton, N.D. about 30 minutes west of Fargo. As one of the nation's largest ethanol facilities, Tharaldson Ethanol produces 110 million gallons of ethanol and about 350,000 tons of dried distiller's grain each year. Tharaldson's state of the art facility utilizes the latest, most innovative and energy efficient technology in the marketplace including low natural gas consumption per gallon of ethanol produced and extensive grain storage infrastructure including a grain dryer to accommodate wet corn.

Redfield Energy, LLC is a 50 million gallon per year ethanol production facility located two miles north of Redfield, S.D. The plant produces approximately 160,000 tons of modified wet and dried distillers grain, which is sold to the local and West Coast markets.

Advanced BioEnergy, LLC owns and operates ethanol production facilities in Fairmont, Neb., Huron, S.D. and Aberdeen, S.D. Their combined annual ethanol production capacity is approximately 200 million gallons. The company currently employs 120 full-time employees.

Corn Plus operates a 49 million gallon annual ethanol production facility in Winnebago, Minn. The plant was constructed in 1993 and is locally owned, supported, financed and marketed. Corn Plus's innovation in value-added ethanol production is of national significance; its new fluidized bed is the only one of its kind in the world.

"Carbon Green BioEnergy, LLC chose to join Growth Energy because of the strong leadership shown by Growth in addressing the crucial issues facing the ethanol industry. We are impressed with the way Growth Energy has structured its organization to encourage members to be proactive in achieving our shared goals," said Jim Murphy, Chairman of Carbon Green BioEnergy, LLC.

"Tharaldson Ethanol believes in Growth Energy's vision and innovative approaches through promotion and legislation, necessary to expand ethanol's influence on America's fuel demand," said Russ Newman, Vice President of Tharaldson.

"Redfield Energy, LLC is proud to be a member of Growth Energy. Our Board of Managers and Executive Team know that Growth Energy is the ideal partner to get the right message out to the public about the many benefits of ethanol. I have been impressed with the passion toward this goal that their leadership group has shown," said Tom Hitchcock, Chief Executive Officer of Redfield Energy, LLC.

"Advanced BioEnergy, LLC has joined Growth Energy because we believe the policy issues facing the industry over the next two years are critical to our long-term success. With improved financial stability it was time to take a more direct and active role in the industry through active participation in Growth Energy. The outcome of today's legislative policy issues directly impact the success of our company and we support Growth Energy's initiatives to cultivate a pro-ethanol policy environment at state and federal levels," said Rich Peterson, CEO of Advanced BioEnergy, LLC.

"We greatly appreciate and value Growth Energy's political connections within the D.C. market. Their unique ability to arrange and schedule vital legislative meetings on our behalf is of great value to us here at Corn Plus," said Keith Kor, General Manager of Corn Plus.

Propel Fuels Offers E85 for 85 Cents Throughout Sacramento

E85 sold for 85 cents a gallon on Wednesday, February 24 at five Propel stations throughout California. Facilities in Sacramento, Rocklin, Citrus Heights and Elk Grove held a promotion from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in partnership with CALSTART.

The event's intent was to educate Sacramento drivers and bring new FFV owners to Propel stations. The event had media coverage from all local broadcast affiliates, as well as the key daily and business publications in the area.

Propel is fuel retailer focused solely on the alternative fuel market. Chris LaPlante Marketing Director, Propel Fuels said, "The customer turnout exceeded our expectations with over 400 hundred participants in the E85 promotion across five locations. These customers reduced approximately 30,000 lbs of CO2 that day, and saved over $10,000 at the pump. What a day!"

"Given the cost savings and carbon reductions our fleet has realized through Propel's Sacramento stations, we are looking forward to broader statewide access from Propel," said Larry Paris, Fleet Manager, Sacramento District of the U.S. Postal Service. "Working with Propel to identify future locations that best serve our fleet is vital to meeting the renewable fuel goals of the U.S. Postal Service."

Matt Horton, CEO of Propel noted, "Consumers and fleets see considerable savings at the pump by using E85, and reduce dependence on foreign oil," said Matt Horton, CEO of Propel. "Propel's average E85 price is $.50 per gallon lower than gasoline, so checking your car's Flex Fuel compatibility can lead to significant savings at the pump."

New or Renewed Growth Energy Members

Member Spotlight — Croton on Hudson

Jim Foley and Miguel Suaza, partners of Croton on Hudson, have always been environmentally savvy. Prior to opening their E85 fueling facility 67 Croton Point Ave. in Croton-on-Hudson, NY, they partnered with New York State Energy Research (NYSERDA) and Development Authority to install a 15kW solar system on the station's canopy.

"The reason we installed ethanol into our facility is because of the environmental benefits for the community, it also seemed to be a great business opportunity," said Foley. "The station differentiated ourselves from our direct competitors and most regional gas stations. The nearest station selling E85 is nearly 15 miles away."

Foley noted that he feels the most challenging aspect of the growth of alternative fuels, E85 and FFV's is, from a station owner's point of view, the cost of installation of the product. He explained it takes a vast personal commitment of resources to get E85 to the customer. This is why E85 retailers must view their gasoline business completely different.

Foley went on, "I would like to encourage every gas station owner to consider the profit potential of being the only retailer in their area with biofuel. . . The benefits are not immediate. But you will be future proofing your business. As gasoline volumes continue to drop and pump prices escalate, the customers in your market will have an alternative. They will value and appreciate that option E85 gives them."

The Croton on Hudson Gulf station three grades of gasoline, E10, E85 and biodiesel. For a complete list of E85 stations click here.

New E85 and Blender Pump Stations

As of this publication, there are 2,108 E85 stations. Below is a listing of those opened since our last publication.

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.

Letters to Growth Energy

On December 17, 2009, Growth Energy handed over the keys to a new Ford F150 FFV to Roger and Margie Johnson of Exeter, Nebraska. The Johnsons were the grand prize winners in the Growth Force sweepstakes.

Growth Energy recently received a sincere Thank You from the Johnsons for the truck. Below is the note in the card they sent:

"Thank you so much for drawing our name for the giveaway of a pickup. We live in a small town and different people ask us each time we drive it about the pickup and can't believe that we won it. It sure is amazing and exciting. We even had an auto dealership call us to see if we wanted to trade it off. Roger said absolutely NOT."