The Circle K station uses Protec Fuel's turnkey E85 fuel program, which included the conversion process to an E85 fueling pump, E85 supply and promotional marketing. Protec's [image-nocss] fuel supply and marketing program for Mid-State Energy and Circle K is built around a partnership with the RFA, General Motors, Testing LLC and other companies. This is the first E85 station for Mid-State Energy, RFA and Protec said.
"The new product offering of E85 is an exciting addition to the town of Lake Wales, and we are located in a busy area of town, so the new E85 pump will attract attention as people drive by," said Mid-State Energy president Ken Allen Jr. "We anticipate to offer a biodiesel product in the near future at this location as well as additional E85 stations, which will allow more people to join the movement to a cleaner renewable fuel."
Jane Dial of Circle K said, "The use of biofuels in our vehicles is growing rapidly and to have the opportunity to offer it as an option to our customers is very exciting and is consistent with the goal of Circle K to help build stronger communities, minimize our environmental footprint and be responsive to our customers and employees.
Todd Garner of Protec added, "Protec is proud to partner with Mid-State Energy and Circle K to bring domestically produced cleaner fuels to the public. As one of the nation's largest convenience stores chains, Circle K has the potential to have an extremely positive impact on E85."
There are more than eight million FFVs on America's roadways today, the companies said, with more than 2,300 fueling stations offering blends of E85. Efforts to install more of these types of fueling stations are underway with a goal to at least triple the availability of these blends within the next few years.
"When customers fill up with E85, they are not only putting a cleaner burning fuel into their vehicles, they are supporting domestic made fuels and enhancing energy security for the U.S.," said RFA market development director Robert White. "Converting these unleaded fuel pumps to E85 stations is an important element in the process of increasing the use of E85 throughout the southeastern area of the country."
Representing the majority of American ethanol production, the RFA has led the fight on behalf of American ethanol producers to open markets and create sound public policies allowing for the expanding production and use of fuel ethanol.
Protec Fuel is a fuel distribution and management company based in Boca Raton, Fla., with its alternative fuel division specializing in turnkey ethanol programs for retailers, fleets and fuel distributors throughout the United States. Turnkey services include physical ethanol supply and blending programs; financial risk management programs; E85 strategic site selection; station design; equipment supply; new station installation; conversions of existing stations; RINS management; government grant funding assistance and; support with station sales and marketing. Protec also provides marketing services for advanced and cellulosic ethanol producers in addition to a full range of conventional energy risk management programs. Protec's strategy is to build out E85 infrastructure throughout the United States in order to develop the corresponding long-term demand for regionalized advanced and cellulosic biofuel production and distribution.
It currently supplies, either directly or through distribution partners, approximately 250 E85 stations.
Mid-State Energy is a family-owned petroleum distributor headquartered in Lake Wales, owning and servicing convenience stores under the Sunoco, CITGO and Marathon brand throughout the state of Florida.
Its Highlands Oil division services commercial and industrial customers with petroleum and lubricant needs in central Florida; its Blue Flame Gas propane division services residential and commercial customers in central Florida; and its Scenic Self Storage division is a 300-unit facility as well as commercial office/warehouse facility located at the main headquarters.
Laval, Quebec-based Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. currently operates a network of 5,883 c-stores, 4,142 of which include motor fuel dispensing, located in 11 large geographic markets, including eight in the United States covering 43 states and the District of Columbia (under the Circle K banner), and three in Canada covering all 10 province (under the Mac's banner).
In 2003-2004, Circle K became part of the Couche-Tard network. Within the decentralized business model of Couche-Tard, the eight U.S. regions operate autonomously and independently from each other. Although some businesses are managed in partnership between the regions for efficiency via national vendor contracts, this is done only upon agreement from each region. The regions are directly responsible for all decisions relating to the operations, marketing, facilities and property management, hiring/human resources and technology needs of their respective market areas.
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