OMAHA, Neb. — Growth Energy announced today that Roger and Margie Johnson of Exeter, Neb., were the grand prize winners in the Growth Force sweepstakes for a Ford F150 Flex Fuel pickup truck. The Johnsons arrived in Omaha today to take the keys of the pickup from Wayne Hoovestol, Chairman of Green Plains Renewable Energy and a member of the Growth Energy Board of Directors.
“We are very proud to drive a Ford Flex Fuel Vehicle. If we’re ever going to secure our nation, we need to do it with domestic fuels like ethanol. Ethanol creates jobs here in the U.S., and it gives our farmers market certainty, but just as important is the fact that every gallon of ethanol we make in the U.S. means one less gallon of fuel from overseas,” the Johnsons said.
The giveaway was conducted as part of the campaign launching Growth Force, the individual membership for Growth Energy, a coalition of U.S. ethanol supporters. People who signed up for Growth Force became eligible to win the truck. Growth Force sign-up drives were held at two of the nation’s largest farm shows: the Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Ill., and the Husker Harvest Days show in Grand Island, Neb.
More than 13,000 people have joined Growth Force since its inception this summer.
“As a member of Growth Energy, we are pleased to award this Flex Fuel Ford F150 truck to the Johnsons,” Hoovestol said at the truck giveaway. “In a short period of time, ethanol has become the third largest supplier of fuel in the U.S. behind imports from Canada and ahead of fuel imports from Saudi Arabia and Mexico. We congratulate the Johnsons.”
Hoovestol noted that ethanol has provided more than 10 billion gallons of fuel to Americans in 2009, which is enough fuel to run 21.5 million cars on an 85% ethanol blend fuel or E85.
“Growth Energy is committed to an America that is fueled by homegrown, clean-burning ethanol. People who join Growth Force are people who want to lend their voice to the effort to break our dependence on foreign oil, or who care about cleaner skies, or who want to see jobs created here in the U.S.,” said Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy. “We’re grateful that we have received such an outpouring of support, and we will continue to build on Growth Force. Congratulations to Roger and Margie for winning their own Flex Fuel pickup truck!”
More information about Growth Force – including instructions on how to join – can be found at www.growthforce.org.
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About Growth Energy
Growth Energy is a group committed to the promise of agriculture and growing America’s economy through cleaner, greener energy. Growth Energy members recognize America needs a new ethanol approach. Through smart policy reform and a proactive grassroots campaign, Growth energy promotes reducing greenhouse gas emissions, expanding the use of ethanol in gasoline, decreasing our dependence on foreign oil, and creating American jobs at home. More information can be found at GrowthEnergy.org.