Meijer Inc. (Grand Rapids, Mich.) has announced the opening of its first E85 ethanol fueling station in the state of Michigan.
The pump, located at Meijer's newest gas station, in Warren, Mich., will allow drivers to fill up with the alternative, renewable fuel. The pump is one of 20 which will be installed at Meijer gas stations across the state before the end of this year.
In April, Meijer, General Motors, CleanFUEL USA and the State of Michigan announced a collaborative partnership to increase use of the ethanol based fuel. As part of the partnership, local GM dealers will help promote the new refueling stations when customers purchase its FlexFuel vehicles. GM currently has more than two million FlexFuel vehicles on the road capable of using E85 ethanol fuel.
“We are pleased to be able to provide our customers with fuel alternatives and choices that diminish our reliance on foreign fuels,” said Meijer co-chairman and co-ceo Hank Meijer. “Customers across the state, beginning here in east Michigan, will be able to select E85 ethanol when they stop in to fill up at Meijer. As the number of flex fuel vehicles on the roads increase, Meijer wants to be able to provide our customers with convenience while supporting the use of cleaner burning fuels, like ethanol.”
Over the next few months, Meijer will continue to open additional E85 ethanol fueling stations across the state of Michigan, as well as into Indiana.
Earlier this month, Sheetz Inc. (Altoona, Pa.) announced it would be offering the alternative fuel at several of its C-store locations in Pennsylvania. E85 is a fuel blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. It's an alternative to transportation fuels beyond petroleum and it provides positive environmental benefits in the form of reduced greenhouse gas emissions.