Publication: Industrial Environment
Publication Date: 01-DEC-04
Delivery: Immediate Online Access
Full Article:
The DENCO, LLC, ethanol plant in Morris, Minn., recently qualified under Monsanto Company's Fuel Your Profits(SM) initiative to have an E85 fuel pump installed for free.

The grand opening festivities included a special ribbon cutting ceremony, led by Congressman Collin Peterson, U.S. House of Representatives, Minnesota 7th District, with other dignitaries including Minnesota State Representative Torrey Westrom and Morris City Mayor Carol Wilcox. Customers also enjoyed a special price of $0.85 per gallon on E85 fuel throughout the day.

"Minnesota has more ethanol plants than any other state. The new tax credits we just passed should help us keep the ethanol and renewable fuels industry growing and at the same time reduce our dependence on Middle East oil," said Congressman Peterson.

Mick Miller, DENCO plant manager, responded, "We're delighted that Congressman Peterson could join us for this event and thank him for his support of ethanol in Minnesota. Through Fuel Your Profits, we can now honor our community with an E85 fuel pump that will drive demand for ethanol and help raise awareness with motorists of this environmentally friendly, renewable fuel."

"We're delighted that through Fuel Your Profits we can now honor our community with an E85 fuel pump that will drive demand for ethanol and help raise awareness with motorists of this environmentally friendly, renewable fuel," added Miller.

Fuel Your Profits is a Processor Preferred(R) High Fermentable Corn initiative designed to improve the profit potential of both corn growers and ethanol plants. The initiative objectives are to deliver improved corn for the dry mill ethanol industry, drive increased ethanol fuel demand and expand ethanol fuel infrastructure to support that demand. Fuel Your Profits supporters include the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition, General Motors, Beef Producers, Pork Producers and more than 90 seed brands that carry Processor Preferred High Fermentable Corn.

"Fuel Your Profits gives us greater access to Processor Preferred High Fermentable Corn which delivers higher levels of fermentable starch resulting in higher ethanol yields from our plant," said Miller. "This initiative is a sound, sensible way to help grow the ethanol industry," said Gene Sandager, president of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association. "As part of the Minnesota E85 Team, we support this homegrown alternative fuel and applaud DENCO and Monsanto on their partnership to provide a market for higher ethanol yielding corn for corn growers."

Minnesota leads the nation in E85 fuel stations that offer this cleaner-burning, renewable fuel. This is a flagship E85 pump for Minnesota in that the pump visibly links the fuel to its source -- corn. The pump, decorated with corn graphics, also provides information that educates the public about ethanol and E85. "Monsanto, along with our Fuel Your Profits supporters, are very pleased to provide this local support to fuel E85 demand in Stevens County," said Amy Rutherford, Monsanto's Processor Preferred U.S. Business Manager. "As a renewable energy source, ethanol use helps reduce foreign oil dependence, supports clean air and has a positive economic impact in rural America. We look forward to a continued partnership with DENCO," Rutherford continued.

"We are very pleased to play a role in providing motorists with this cleaner-burning alternative fuel," said Tim Gerlach, Outdoor Air Director for the American Lung Association of Minnesota and member of the Minnesota E85 Team. "E85 helps reduce tailpipe and greenhouse gas emissions, while supporting the economy and increasing our nation's energy independence."

DENCO is one of 33 dry mill ethanol plants currently participating in the Processor Preferred Fuel Your Profits initiative across ten states. DENCO will produce 22 million gallons of ethanol and will utilize more than 8 million bushels of corn from the 2004 harvest.

Monsanto Company (NYSE:MON) is a leading global provider of technology- based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality.

For more information, visit http://www.monsanto.com or call 314/378-6938.

The National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition is the nation's primary advocate dedicated to the use of 85 percent ethanol as a form of alternative transportation fuel. It is a coalition of corn growers, ethanol producers and auto manufacturers based in Jefferson City, Missouri.

For more information, visit http://www.e85fuel.com.