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Grand Island, NE
—
Bosselman Inc. announced the opening of Nebraska's fifth
E85 location today at their Pump & Pantry at
3500 W.
Capital Avenue in Grand Island. The
announcement was made with Governor Mike Johanns, the
Nebraska Ethanol Board, and General Motors Corporation.
Bosselman also announced plans to expand its number of E85
stations.
As
part of the grand opening, drivers of flexible fuel
vehicles (FFVs) capable of running on E85 were encouraged
to fill their tanks for 85 cents a gallon.
“Establishing new ethanol outlets provides widespread
benefits not only for Nebraska’s farm communities, but for
our entire state,” said Governor Johanns. “By
increasing the use of ethanol, we strengthen our state’s
economy and help to protect the environment by promoting
the use of a clean-burning fuel. I applaud the many
partners who are working to increase the availability of
this viable fuel alternative.”
Fred
A. Bosselman, President of Bosselman Energy, Inc. added,
“Bosselmans is a long-time marketer of ethanol fuels in
Nebraska and other Midwestern states. We view the
marketing of E85 as an opportunity to expand our slate of
fuel products that contain ethanol produced in Nebraska.
We believe this is the right thing to do to support
Nebraska-based companies and farmers, as well as respond
to demand for clean burning, renewable fuels.”
Nebraska ranks third in U.S. corn production with
approximately 1.1 billion bushels produced annually, and
produces more than 520 million gallons of ethanol annually
by 11 ethanol plants. The state has sold 500,000 gallons
of E85 to date in 2004.
"E85
is a clean‑burning, domestically grown alternative
transportation fuel that can be used in a growing number
of vehicles being produced today,” said Phil Lampert,
Executive Director for the NEVC. “Today, ethanol made from
corn reduces petroleum fuel use by 98,000 barrels per day
and provides jobs for American farmers."
In
the future, when it is made from biomass such as corn and
wheat stalks and forestry waste, ethanol has the potential
to virtually eliminate automotive greenhouse gas
emissions.
GM
and the NEVC are leading a public awareness effort – part
of a two-year partnership between the two organizations –
that focuses on increasing E85 use in GM FFVs, which may
use either E85 or gasoline or any combination of the two.
"General Motors is pleased to sponsor the Grand Island
promotion to encourage consumers to try this homegrown
alternative fuel and take advantage of the benefits," said
Gary Herwick, Director of Alternative Fuels for General
Motors. "We support the use of E85 because it’s an
alternative fuel that relies on domestic production.”
GM
produces more than a third of the more than three million
E85 flexible fuel vehicles on American roads. All 2002 and
newer Chevrolet and GMC full-size SUVs equipped with the
Vortec 5300 engine are E85-capable, including the
Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban; and the GMC Yukon and Yukon
XL. Specially equipped Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra
full-size pickups also are available with E85 capability.
New E85-capable GM vehicles for the 2005 model year are
the Chevy Avalanche and Police Tahoe.
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