GM, Ford pushing E85 hard...lots of (more or less) recent press releases

[eppur_se_muova]

I heard on NPR this morning that Ford, GM, and a local gas company (Myers? Meyers? Meiers?) are working together to bring more ethanol-blended fueling stations to Michigan. I couldn't find a link to the story, but there sure do seem to be a lot of low-profile E85 (etc.) initiatives involving GM in local/regional media...


General Motors Announces Collaboration With Abengoa Bioenergy And Kroger Stores To Help More Texas Motorists Power Their GM FlexFuel Vehicles With E85

AUSTIN, Texas (March 30, 2006) - General Motors today announced plans for the addition of E85 ethanol fuel to be offered at approximately 20 Kroger fueling sites strategically placed throughout the Houston and Dallas area through a collaborative partnership with the retailer and Abengoa Bioenergy. The collaboration is part of a broader, national GM campaign to boost the use and awareness of ethanol-based E85 fuel in the United States.

"I am proud that Texas has the most vehicles that can run on 85 percent ethanol-blended gasoline," said Gov. Rick Perry. "I commend General Motors and its partners for taking steps to make this highly concentrated ethanol fuel - called E85 - more widely available to Texas drivers. I support efforts to further promote the availability and demand of environmentally-friendly fuel across our state."

As part of the partnership, GM will promote the availability of the fuel with consumer and dealer outreach. The partnership is similar to those GM entered into with VeraSun Energy last May in the Sioux Falls area and more recently in the Chicago and Minneapolis areas, as well as earlier this year in California with Chevron Technology Ventures and Pacific Ethanol.
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As part of the agreement, Abengoa Bioenergy will be the principal supplier of E85 ethanol fuel to Kroger retail outlets in Dallas and Houston. Kroger plans to begin introducing the alternative fuel at selected pumps in May of this year.
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more: http://www.gm.com/company/gmability/environment/news_issues/news/ethanol_032906.html


Daily Briefing
From Staff And News Services
Thursday, February 9, 2006
AUTOMOTIVE: GM, Ford promote ethanol

General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co., the two biggest U.S. automakers, will join with energy companies to promote the use of ethanol as an alternative to gasoline in Illinois and Missouri. GM will join with Shell Oil Products U.S. and VeraSun Energy Corp. to add 26 ethanol fuel stations in the Chicago area. Ford and VeraSun will convert an unspecified number of existing fuel pumps in Illinois and Missouri to dispense E85, a mixture of 85 percent ethanol, which is made from crops such as corn, and 15 percent gasoline. Details and financial terms weren't disclosed. Increasing the availability of E85 will make it easier for automakers to sell more "flexible-fuel" cars, which can run on gasoline blended with up to 85 percent ethanol. GM and Ford have said they plan to increase sales of the vehicles in 2006, and Chrysler plans to more than double production, to 500,000 vehicles, by the 2008 model year.

http://www.ajc.com/thursday/content/epaper/editions/thursday/business_34aedefb55aec0f100b4.html


Alternative Fuel Is Focus
By Pauline Masson
06/01/2005

There are 2,373 vehicles that can burn something other than traditional gasoline in Pacific and the surrounding communities, but there could be many more, according to members of the Pacific Ring Initiative alternative fuel committee.

The committee and the city of Pacific organized a symposium at city hall that attracted 50 alternative fuel and vehicle experts, local fleet and large farm operators, elected officials, bankers, business people and auto dealers, to review the state of the alternative fuel industry and explore state and federal funds available to help users move away from fossil fuels.
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Chevrolet, Chrysler, Ford, GM, Mercedes, Mercury and Nissan all offer flex fuel vehicles, which can burn enthanol up to an 85 percent blend.
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There are three stations in the St. Louis area that offer E-85, but that's changing fast. NEVC is helping station owners retrofit their premium gasoline tanks, which motorists are ignoring due to high gas prices, and refill them with E-85.
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more: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=14624879&BRD=1409&PAG=461&dept_id=33071&rfi=8


An Avalanche is being reported to hit Boise next month. In this case it is a Chevrolet Avalanche that will run off ethanol blended gasoline. General Motors is providing E85 capable Chevy Avalanches for use by each of twenty-eight member states of the Governor’s Ethanol Coalition. According to Ken Stewart of G.M., his company, G.E.C., and participating states will use the vehicles in various promotions to increase awareness of ethanol and flexible fuel vehicles, and promote increased use of E85.

more: http://www.aginfo.com/reportView.cfm?recordid=3572


ETHANOL LEGISLATION TAKES THE FIRST STEP
This week was a big week for corn farmers and the Missouri Renewable Fuel Standard (MoRFS). Both the Senate Agriculture, Conservation, Parks and Natural Resources Committee, chaired by Sen. Dan Clemens (R-Marshfield), and the House Agriculture Policy Committee, chaired by Rep. Peter Myers (R-Sikeston), voted unanimously do pass on bills to set a statewide standard for 10 percent ethanol in all fuel sold in Missouri by 2008. The Missouri Corn Growers Association (MCGA) applauded committee members for moving House Bill 1270 & 1027 and Senate Bill 569 forward. Growers appreciate the leadership of the committee chairmen and bill sponsors Reps. Bob Behnen (R-Kirksville), Martin Rucker (D-St. Joseph) and Sen. John Cauthorn (R-Mexico). Legislators at the Missouri State Capitol are making it known that they are serious about energy independence,� said Gary Marshall, MCGA chief executive officer. “The support shown in the agriculture committees helps this legislation clear the first hurdle, but there is still a long race to run before we cross the finish line,� Marshall cautioned. Joining MCGA on this issue, Missouri Farm Bureau President Charlie Kruse sent a letter to the members the House Agriculture Policy Committee reinforcing their organization’s strong support for a 10-percent ethanol fuel standard. Kruse stated, “As you know, ethanol is one of the most successful value-added agricultural benefits not only in terms of returns to Missouri farmers but also environmental benefits and supplemental fuel for us all as consumers. Looking to the future, the importance of ethanol in addressing our nation’s energy needs and strengthening the agricultural economy cannot be overstated.� Knowing there is much work to be done, Sen. Cauthorn who championed the MoRFS in the Senate Ag Committee, issued the following challenge to his fellow legislators: “Ethanol is widely supported by Missouri’s agriculture community, as this week’s vote
shows. Now it is time for all of my colleagues to support the Missouri Renewable Fuels Standard. This isn’t a rural or city issue – it’s a clean air, consumer friendly standard for all Missourians.�
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more: http://www.mocorn.org/updates/2006/Update021706.pdf


GM Joins State of California, Chevron Technology Ventures LLC, and Pacific Ethanol to Help Investigate Ethanol as Alternative, Renewable Fuel

(CSRwire) LOS ANGELES -- General Motors will help lead a joint demonstration project along with the state of California, Chevron Technology Ventures, and Pacific Ethanol to learn more about consumer awareness and acceptance of E85 as a motor vehicle fuel by demonstrating its use in GM's flexible-fuel vehicles. The announcement was made as a result of a non-binding understanding made public today at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

GM intends to offer between 50 to 100 of its E85-capable Chevrolet Impala passenger cars and Silverado pickup trucks for consideration in the state's annual competitive bid process. Flexible-fuel vehicles will be used by the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) at various operations in Northern California and the state's Central Valley. Chevron Technology Ventures intends to work with CalTrans to provide E85 fuel and install the necessary refueling pumps in these locations. Pacific Ethanol, a California-based ethanol production and marketing company, intends to provide the ethanol to Chevron Technology Ventures for the project.

Since California currently imports more than half of its crude oil, it has become a statewide priority to develop and grow diverse energy sources. The ethanol project is designed to explore the merits of E85 to help meet that goal, and its potential to meet and exceed California’s high standards for fuel quality and environmental emissions.

"Governor Schwarzenegger strongly supports the development of alternative fuels to improve California's air quality, reduce CO2 emissions, and achieve energy independence," said Cal/EPA Secretary Alan C. Lloyd. "This demonstration program involving E-85 fuel technology insures that California will continue to play a leading role in protecting the environment and public health."
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more: http://www.socialfunds.com/news/release.cgi?sfArticleId=4869

[electropop]

1. Must be Meijer

a grocery store chain in that area.

By the way, interesting post. I heard a story on the radio (NPR?) the other day saying that Detroit is looking at Ethanol as their answer to the Japanese hybrids. It's an easier conversion, and we have the agricultural capacity (like Brazil) to support it. There's also a growing biodiesel movement, and it's also a pretty easy retrofit.

[Lefty48197]

4. Yup, it is Meijers. Highest paid grocery workers in the midwest, and

they were the first ones I ever saw to have natural gas pumps at their stations (at least at SOME of them).

[DS1]

2. Um. Duh. The filthiest, most corrupt state in the Union gets first licks

at an alternative fuel source. Of COURSE they're going to find a way to sabotage the whole experiment - and further their own financial gains.

Fuck Texas, test it in Vermont. Or Maine. He'll I'll even go half way and say test it in New York! * Michigan is out of the question *

[Lefty48197]

5. You CAN'T be talking about Michigan.

"filthiest... ...state in the union..."

?

[DS1]

6. No, I was talking about Texas

and when I mentioned MI, I mentioned it because I've lived in Jersey, and MI is horrible compared to Jersey - and you have the shittiest roads on the planet. But my main point about MI was that the Auto industry lives there, so of course the hybrid program would fail there, too.

[Lefty48197]

7. Ok, I understand that part now

But Meijer's is a Michigan corporation, and they're the ones who are going to be selling the E85 fuel. I don't think the automakers think gasoline engines will be around forever. I think they're definately interested in the new generation of engines.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

3. Why do we have to test it? Isn't that the same thing

GM does in Brazil?

[JohnWxy]

8. No testing required. It's known to work and be a better fuel (GHG and

cleaner for the engine). They are just getting together to make ethanol more available to consumers who can't afford a hybrid. GM and Ford know the Reppublican run Governmnet will wait till the planet is burning up to tell Oil companies to make ethanol available to consumers.

OF course , with the removal of MTBE the oil companies are being forced to supply ethanol (about 6%) whether they like it or not.


YOU will notice the oil companies havaen't funded disinformation campaigns (Pimentel and Patzek) against hybrid vehicles because they don't represent nearly the threat to there business that ethanol does.