GM Prepares North Florida to Go Yellow

[Variance]

GM Prepares North Florida to Go Yellow

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – General Motors today announced that it has facilitated plans for the launch of E85 ethanol fueling sites in the greater Tallahassee area thanks to a collaborative partnership with Inland Food Stores and the State of Florida. GM has been the catalyst behind several similar partnerships across the country as part of a broader, national campaign to boost the use and awareness of ethanol-based E85 fuel in the United States.

The announcement was made today at the Inland Food Store at 3500 North Monroe, the first location to publicly offer E85 ethanol in Florida, at an event presided over by Florida Governor Jeb Bush.

“Securing a diverse and reliable supply of energy will reduce Florida's dependence on imported oil and ensure that a balanced mix of fuel sources and technologies are available for years to come," said Governor Bush. "The tremendous potential of ethanol to become a major source of transportation fuel for Florida 's energy future will be spurred with greater public access to ethanol fueling stations."

Commenting on today’s announcement, Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles Bronson added, “We congratulate General Motors and Inland Food Stores in the formation of this partnership to bring renewable biofuel to consumers at more retail locations. We’re pleased that the efforts of today’s partnership will help provide more Florida consumers with domestically grown and produced fuel choices like E85.”

Under the partnership, Southwest Georgia Oil Co., Inc. will identify 16 additional fueling stations—under the names Inland Fuel and SunStop convenience stores—in Tallahassee and the surrounding area where E85 ethanol will begin to roll out between now and the beginning of 2007.

“Inland is proud to offer the first retail E85 dispensers in the State of Florida,” said Mike Harrell, President and CEO, Inland Food Stores. “We are committed to making alternative fuel choices like E85 easily available to the public and we are excited to be teaming up with Gov. Bush, General Motors, and our supply partners to promote E85’s availability and to increase consumer awareness. We also wish to acknowledge the help of the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition in our endeavor.”

General Motors will continue to spend significant advertising and promotion dollars to help generate awareness of E85 flexible fuel vehicles—and where consumers can purchase E85 ethanol—with consumer marketing initiatives and dealer outreach.

“GM already has more than two million vehicles on the road today that are capable of using E85 ethanol fuel,” said Elizabeth Lowery, GM vice president of environment and energy. “We appreciate that Inland Food Stores is joining our efforts to make this great fuel alternative available to people in Florida. We also appreciate the support of Gov. Bush and the State of Florida as we continue to promote the use of E85 ethanol and its many benefits for the environment, the economy and consumers.”

The effort is similar to announcements GM has already made with other state government, oil industry, ethanol producers, and retail partners in California, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Texas. Since May 2005, GM has announced partnerships with states and fuel providers around the country to locate, to date, up to 170 new E85 ethanol fueling locations by the end of 2006.

“I applaud GM's efforts to provide consumers with greater access to E85,” added Bill Wehrum, Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. “E85 improves our environment, strengthens U.S. energy security and helps to support American farmers. I am pleased that more and more drivers will be able to choose this important alternative fuel.”

Also commenting on today’s announcement, Ed Wall, manager for the Freedom CAR program, Department of Energy said, "The Department of Energy congratulates General Motors, Inland Food Stores and Governor Bush in the formation of this partnership to bring renewable biofuel to consumers at more retail locations. The expansion of the Florida E85 network is particularly significant, as Florida is one of the top three states in registrations of flexible fuel vehicles. DOE is dedicated to developing energy efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles and fuels to meet the needs of all Americans. The efforts of today's partnership will help our nation to wean itself from its addiction to oil by providing consumers with domestically grown and produced fuel choices like E85."

E85 flexible fuel vehicles can run on any combination of gasoline and/or E85 ethanol, a fuel blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. E85 ethanol can contribute to energy independence because it diversifies the source of transportation fuels beyond petroleum, and it provides positive environmental benefits in the form of reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Today, ethanol is primarily made from corn, but can also be produced by a variety of other materials.

At the beginning of 2006, GM launched a major national advertising campaign, “Live Green, Go Yellow” to build consumer awareness around the benefits of E85 ethanol and GM’s E85 flex fuel vehicles. In addition to the general public, GM will help make it easier for consumers to locate E85 fueling stations by using its OnStar technology to provide directions to the nearest station when needed.

GM is a leader in flexible-fuel vehicle production and sales. For the 2006 model year, GM offers nine E85 flexible fuel vehicles, including the Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Yukon XL, Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, Chevrolet Avalanche, Chevrolet Impala, and the Chevrolet Monte Carlo. For the 2007 model year, GM will offer additional vehicles for a total of 17 E85 FlexFuel models. In addition to the ’06 models, GM will offer the Chevrolet Uplander, Chevrolet Express, Chevrolet Silverado, Saturn Relay, GMC Savana, GMC Sierra, Buick Terrazza, Pontiac Montana SV6 (in Canada). At the same time, worldwide production of ethanol is increasing every year, and is expected to triple by 2020.

About GM:

General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world’s largest automaker, has been the global industry sales leader for 75 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 327,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 33 countries. In 2005, 9.17 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn and Vauxhall. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.

About Inland Food Stores:

Established in 1967 in Bainbridge, Georgia, Southwest Georgia Oil Co., Inc., under the retail names Inland Fuel and SunStop convenience stores, is one of the Southeast’s top-rated family-owned and operated convenience store chains. The company operates 30 convenience locations throughout Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. Inland prides itself on superior customer service and cleanliness in its stores and offers its customers the latest and greatest in convenient snacks, groceries and high quality fuels. All SunStop convenience stores are open 365 days a year and sell Inland or Shell fuel products. For more information, visit www.inland-stores.com.

About Florida’s Energy Future:

On June 19, 2006, Governor Jeb Bush signed into law, the 2006 Florida Energy Act, a comprehensive strategy to diversify the Florida’s fuel supply and provide long-term energy security. The four-year, $100 million plan provides rebates, grants and tax incentives to create a more balanced energy portfolio by increasing Florida’s investment in the development of alternative fuel technologies. To learn more about the 2006 Florida Energy Act, visit www.floridaenergy.org

Source: General Motors

[Flybrian]

I think our only E85 stations now are at the Kennedy Space Center and Hurburt Field, so unless I'm the shuttle or an F-15...

[GMman]

This is great news. E85 goes into every tank of my wife's Suburban. Right now it's $1.99/gallon. There are a few stations around the Dallas metroplex that carry it. Fortunately there is one right down the street from us. MPG drops with E85, but lower prices even things out a bit.....and it's cool to purchase a fuel that uses the tagline:

"Fuel from the Midwest....not the Mideast....E85..the AMERICAN Fuel"

[deftonesfan867]

This is great news.  E85 goes into every tank of my wife's Suburban.  Right now it's $1.99/gallon.  There are a few stations around the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex that carry it.  Fortunately there is one right down the street from us.  MPG drops with E85, but lower prices even things out a bit.....and it's cool to purchase a fuel that uses the tagline:

"Fuel from the Midwest....not the Mideast....E85..the AMERICAN Fuel"

193147[/snapback]

There, I fixed it for ya.

[XM DUDE]

This is great news.  E85 goes into every tank of my wife's Suburban.  Right now it's $1.99/gallon.  There are a few stations around the Dallas metroplex that carry it.  Fortunately there is one right down the street from us.  MPG drops with E85, but lower prices even things out a bit.....and it's cool to purchase a fuel that uses the tagline:

"Fuel from the Midwest....not the Mideast....E85..the AMERICAN Fuel"

193147[/snapback]

Keep us posted on how well it works out for you.