September 28, 2006 — Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced that six public service stations will receive incentives to install or convert refueling equipment to provide ethanol (E85) or biodiesel (B20) fuel. These incentives are part of a larger effort recently announced by Governor Granholm to increase the availability of bio-based renewable transportation fuels across Michigan. 

“Michigan is moving aggressively to create jobs in the development and production of alternative energy, and increasing the production and use of ethanol and bio-diesel fuels is a key part of our strategy,” Granholm said. “It’s the right strategy for Michigan – diversifying our economy, supporting our manufacturers and farmers, protecting our environment and helping break our nation’s dependence on foreign oil. We will have 1,000 bio-fuel pumps in Michigan by 2008.”
Service station owners receiving the incentives have agreed to complete their installation and begin dispensing E85 and/or B20 fuel to the public by December 31, 2006. The following stations are receiving incentives:

•      Kelly Fuels (Albion),
•      Exit 76 Corporation (Rockford & Howard City),
•      Randy’s Service Station, Inc. (Fowlerville),
•      Scharf’s Service & Fuel Oil (Center Line), and
•      Group Center, Inc. (Southfield)

The installation of ethanol and biodiesel refueling equipment will be monitored by NextEnergy Center which received a grant from the Michigan Energy Office to administer the pilot incentive program. “This important program represents another step in NextEnergy’s partnership with the State of Michigan to enable the commercialization of energy technologies that positively contribute to the nation’s economic competitiveness, energy security, and the environment”, stated Jim Croce, CEO of NextEnergy.

“The day is nearer when all Michigan drivers will have convenient access to alternative fuels like E85 and B20,” Swanson said. “Michigan farmers are supplying the crops and crop residues to make biofuels, business entrepreneurs are building ethanol and biodiesel production facilities throughout the state and Michigan auto companies are manufacturing alternative fuel vehicles in record numbers. Michigan’s economy, environment and energy security are benefiting from these efforts,” Swanson added.

Funding for the Biofuel Infrastructure Incentive Program was made available through a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (www.energy.gov). The program is administered by the DLEG Energy Office, (www.michigan.gov/energyoffice) in cooperation with the Michigan Strategic Fund.

Contacts: Tim Shireman, Energy Office Project Manager
               (517-241-6281, tashire@michigan.gov).
               Jan Patrick, Energy Office Supervisor
               (517-241-6153, jpatri@michigan.gov).
               Jim Croce, NextEnergy CEO
               (313-833-0100, jimc@nextenergy.org).

Read more Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth press releases.