WASHINGTON, DC — In response to the announcement today by Sheetz, a leading convenience store and fuel retailer located throughout Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio and North Carolina, that they will begin to offer E15 in North Carolina starting this year, Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy, issued the following statement:
“On behalf of Growth Energy and all of its members, I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to Sheetz on their recent announcement that they will begin offering E15 at 60 stations throughout North Carolina this year. Sheetz is a well-known leader in the fuel retail business and their decision to offer E15 shows they are in tune with an ever changing marketplace where consumers are demanding higher performance, lower cost renewable fuels grown right here at home.
“By offering E15, Sheetz is not only helping support American jobs and America’s rural economy, they are also taking steps to offer fuels that burn cleaner and are better for our environment. Furthermore, at the same time, they are improving our energy security by reducing our dependence on foreign oil and fossil fuels.
“According to existing E15 retailers, E15 offers consumers a $0.05 to $0.10 price per gallon advantage compared to regular gas. Additionally, consumers are getting a higher octane, better performing fuel that burns cleaner and runs cooler in engines, which improves vehicle performance and can extend engine life. With E15, consumers are getting more for less when they fill up and retailers are reporting zero complaints with E15.
“Their decision to offer E15 clearly demonstrates the strength of consumer demand for higher ethanol blends such as E15. It proves once again that consumers will select a high performance, low cost fuel when given the choice. Sheetz is clearly a leader in the fuel retail marketplace and is acutely in tune with what their customers want and need.”
E15 is the most tested fuel in history. The U.S. Department of Energy performed an exhaustive test of E15, driving 86 cars for over 6 million miles, and approving the fuel for use in all light duty cars and trucks model year 2001 and newer.
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About Growth Energy
Growth Energy represents the producers and supporters of ethanol who feed the world and fuel America in ways that achieve energy independence, improve economic well-being and create a healthier environment for all Americans now. For more information, please visit us at www.GrowthEnergy.org, follow us on Twitter @GrowthEnergy or connect with us on Facebook.