WASHINGTON, DC –– Growth Energy has joined forces with Edwards Oil to offer high level blends of ethanol at the Quik Mart Convenience Store at 358 Cox Creek Parkway located in Florence, AL. The store will now offer E85 (a combination of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline) as a fueling option for consumers.
“We are pleased to offer assistance to Edwards Oil on the installation of this clean, alternative fuel in Alabama,” said Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis. “Greater access to ethanol will help decrease our dependence on oil, improve our environment and strengthen our national security.”
Edwards Oil Company owns and operates 41 Quik Mart Convenience Stores, 14 of which are located in Northwest Alabama.
Jonathan Edwards, President of Edwards Oil said, “We appreciate Growth Energy’s assistance in helping us to fund this infrastructure. Alabama has not seen much investment or sales demand for E85, we are hoping to have a role in changing that.”
“We congratulate and commend Quik Mart Convenience Stores and the people of the Shoals for making the second station possible. E85 has increased dramatically across the state,” said Mark Bentley, Executive Director of the Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition. “In 2006, there were no public stations pumping E85 in the state. Last year, considering both public and private stations, E85 displaced over 700,000 gallons of traditional gasoline in the state of Alabama. There are now 13 public stations making E85 available to the general public.”
Edwards Oil has become part of Growth Energy’s 2010 E85 and Blender Pump Program, offering funds to retailers for the alternative fuel infrastructure. Growth Energy is also assisting retailers with the technical aspects of installation and marketing of both mid and high level blends of ethanol. A complete list of all sites offering both mid and high level blends of ethanol may be found at 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.
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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.