GM Provides Ohio With E85-Capable Chevrolet Tahoe for Educatio

General Motors today announced that it has facilitated plans for the addition of several new E85 ethanol fueling sites in central Ohio thanks to a collaborative partnership with Kroger Stores and the State of Ohio. 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 7000 East Broad Street Kroger Fueling Station in Columbus, where the first of these planned E85 ethanol pumps will be installed next month.

Ohio Governor Bob Taft presided over the event, during which he signed House Bill 245 into law in front of a new FlexFuel Chevy Tahoe. The new law will provide financial assistance to retailers adding or converting pumps to carry ethanol and biodiesel.

"We're working hard to make Ohio a leader in the production and deployment of alternative fuels to reduce our dependence on imported oil and focus on fuels we produce here in our state," said Gov. Taft. "In February, I announced a goal of tripling the number of E85 pumps in Ohio from six to 18 by the end of the year. Thanks to partnerships like this one with GM and Kroger, we expect to achieve that goal."

Commenting on today's announcement, Ed Wall program manager, FreedomCar and Vehicle Technology, U.S. Department of Energy said, "We congratulate General Motors, Kroger and Governor Taft in the formation of this partnership to bring renewable biofuel to consumers at more retail locations. The Department of Energy 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."

Kroger is making the station improvements needed to offer E85 in Ohio and plans to offer E85 at more Kroger locations as consumer demand grows. Specific locations throughout central Ohio, Dayton, Cincinnati and Toledo will be announced as they come on line.

"Kroger is proud to offer its customers and the many Ohio motorists greater access to E85 ethanol fuel in this state," said Bruce Macaulay, president The Kroger Co., Great Lakes Division. "We appreciate the support of Gov. Taft and GM in promoting availability and consumer awareness of this viable alternative fuel."

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. 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, 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 160 new E85 ethanol fueling locations by the end of 2006.

"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 Kroger is joining our efforts to make this great fuel alternative available to more people in Ohio. We also appreciate the support of Gov. Taft and the State of Ohio as we continue to promote the use of E85 ethanol and its many benefits for the environment, the economy and consumers."