With the intention of adding nearly 20 new E85 ethanol fueling sites in
the southeast part of the state, GM is helping Michigan motorists power
their GM FFVs with readily available E85. The collaborative partnership,
which was announced by Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm during an event
at the State Capitol, includes Meijer and CleanFUEL USA, and is part of a
broader, national GM campaign to boost the use and awareness of
ethanol-based E85 fuel in the U.S.
"The production of ethanol and its use present a tremendous opportunity
for Michigan's economy and the world's environment," said Granholm. "Using
ethanol for renewable energy helps our country meet our future energy
needs and we commend GM, CleanFUEL USA and Meijer for their support and
promotion of this alternative fuel."
E85 FlexFuel vehicles can run on any combination of gasoline and/or E85, a
fuel blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.
Michigan is home to one of the largest concentrations of GM's E85
flexible-fuel vehicles in the country with 140,000 GM company vehicle
drivers and members of the general public. The state is also among the
nation's leading corn producers with more than 257 million bushels per
year and is 11th in the nation in terms of overall ethanol production.
"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."
The announcement is part of the effort by GM and the Governors' Ethanol
Coalition, a bipartisan group of governors devoted to the promotion and
increased use of ethanol.