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Dave Gardy: Hi I'm Dave Gardy for Clean Cities TV, the educational internet tv channel of the
U.S. Department of Energy Clean Cities Program. CCTV features videos of projects of clean
cities coalitions around the country. In 2011, the availability of ethanol fuel infrastructure
saw a sharp increase in the State of Michigan. This increase was made possible in part by Clean
Energy Coalition, a 501(c)3 nonprofit that manages Detroit Area Clean Cities coalition. The
projects led by Clean Energy Coalition and Detroit Area Clean Cities brought blended ethanol
and E85 infrastructure as well as education and marketing support for the renewable,
domestically-produced fuel. With funding from the Corn Marketing Program of Michigan and the
U.S. Department of Energy, Clean Energy Coalition sought a collaborative approach to bridge
consumers, fuel station owners, biorefineries and funders to support the millions of flex-fuel
vehicles already on Michigan roadways. How are these relationships formed? Through a state-wide
marketing effort, including an informational seminar with the Corn Marketing Program of
Michigan and the American Coalition for Ethanol.
Ron Lamberty: When we first started looking at these guys, they were taking unleaded in one
tank and E-85 in the other. If you can get your hands on unleaded, you're probably a rare
animal now-a-days. They were doing it- basically- some of the things they were finding was
that their price, buying E-85 in a market where you have an ethonal plant and wanting to get
straight unleaded, that they were getting a better price on E-10, than they could buy on the
pipeline.
Dave Gardy: This seminar provided a chance for station owners to learn about ethanol and the
financial incentives available to offset the cost of converting or installing compliant hardware.
The grant funding for ethanol infrastructure -- made available through the U.S. Department of
Energy -- was strengthened with support from the Corn Marketing Program of Michigan.
Jody Pollok-Newsom: When all this came together we all had our commitment then clean cities
stepped up they took the lead and then the ones that manage the grant and worked that whole
system. And we got funded and the rest of us really just tried to help fund some stations and
do some education, so it was really good because we all took what we did the best and we just
capitalized on that. And then too, it wasn't really too much of a load for any of us.
Dave Gardy: This collaborative approach helped Corrigan Oil open E85 pumps at gas stations in
Whitmore Lake and Howell, Michigan. Making these fuels available was no minor project endeavor.
For typical conversions not requiring a new storage tank, station owners can still expect to
pay more than $25,000 for new pumps, card readers, signage and hanging hardware. Which is why
Clean Cities collaborations are so important.
Jody Pollok-Newsom: So to be able to partner with the clean cities because you guys,
number 1. Know grants inside and out. That's not our strong point that's your strong point. So,
we'd like to be able to capitalize on that and you have all those contacts, you're talking with
the stations, it's a natural fit, and you're able to bring those stations on and we can just
help with some funding. And when you kind of pull that all together and look at your audience
and our audience. I think we do a really good job of hitting anybody that could be interested,
or might be looking for some more infrastructure. So, for us by working with Clean Cities, we
have been able to, probably exponentially, grow the amount of contacts that we can educate
about ethonal.
Ron Lamberty: Now the Clean Cities groups are dedicated to that idea of
replacing petroleum fuel, and they've got people out in the field that can do that.
Dave Gardy: Better still, the use of ethanol results in significant reductions in petroleum use as well as
lowering greenhouse gas emissions. According to the Argonne National Laboratory, corn-based
ethanol production and use reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 52 percent compared to the
life-cycle of gasoline. And with five biofuel refineries and significant corn agriculture
throughout the State of Michigan, station owners that offer E85 are contributing to the state's
job growth., for Clean Cities TV, I'm Dave Gardy.