LANSING , Mich. -- Meijers Inc and General Motors announced plans yesterday for the addition of approximately 20 new E85 ethanol fueling sites in the southeast Michigan area through a collaborative partnership with Meijer and CleanFUEL USA.
The collaboration is part of a broader, national GM campaign to boost the use and awareness of ethanol-based E85 fuel in the United States. The announcement was made during an event at the State Capitol presided over by Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm.
Granholm applauded [image-nocss] the partnership that will spur ethanol use across the state. Michigan has the drive and the strategy to lead the nation in alternative energy sources, research and innovation, said Granholm. Partnerships like the one unveiled today boost our economy and support homegrown Michigan businesses while reducing emissions and bringing us one step closer to energy independence. Currently, only five Michigan stations offer E85, she said.
As part of the partnership, GM will promote the availability of the fuel through consumer and dealer outreach. The effort is similar to announcements GM has already made with other state government, oil industry, ethanol producers, and retail partners in California, Texas, Chicago and Sioux Falls, S.D.
GM already has 1.5 million vehicles on the road today that are capable of using E85 ethanol fuel. We appreciate that CleanFUEL USA and Meijer have joined our efforts to make this great fuel alternative available to more people in Michigan, said Elizabeth Lowery, GM vice president of environment and energy. We also appreciate the support of Gov. Granholm and the State of Michigan as we continue to promote the use of E85 and its many benefits for the environment, the economy and consumers.
GM, Meijer and CleanFuelUSA will work together to identify retail locations in Lansing, Grand Rapids, Warren, Pontiac, Detroit, Rochester and Brighton over the next few months, with one station scheduled to immediately open in Jackson this week.
CleanFUEL USA develops the technology required to use alternative fuels in vehicle engines and to distribute alternative fuel to customers and one of our primary missions is to make alternative fuels available as quickly and efficiently as possible to everyone, said Russell C. Youngdahl Jr., CEO and director, CleanFUEL USA. This partnership represents a significant step forward in accomplishing that mission in Michigan.
Meijer continues to develop partnerships to promote alternative fuels. We are thrilled to provide our customers choices such as E85 that will enhance the environment and provide greater independence from foreign fuels, said Judith Clark, communications director for Meijer. We find Southern Michigan to have a larger portion of flex-fuel vehicles [FFVs] and this will allow convenient fueling locations for our consumers.
GM also provided an E85-capable Chevrolet Tahoe to the state for use in Michigan as part of a campaign to promote ethanol and E85-capable vehicles. As part of the campaign, the governor's office will showcase the vehicle in various ways and events throughout the year.
The announcement is part of a campaign by GM and the Governors' Ethanol Coalition (GEC), a bipartisan group of governors devoted to the promotion and increased use of ethanol. This collaborative effort is designed to increase awareness of ethanol and FFVs, and to promote the increased use of E85 as a renewable, alternative transportation fuel that is able to meet the demands of today's drivers.
Founded in 1993, CleanFUEL USA is based in Georgetown, Texas, and is a manufacturer of alternative fuel dispensing equipment for both propane and E85.
Based in Walker, Mich., Meijer is a family-owned and operated company operating supercenters throughout the Midwest. Meijer operates more than 170 stores in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky.
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