Renew Fuel Station Hits Sales Landmark
Oshkosh station moves millionth gallon of E85
Jan. 7, 2008
OSHKOSH, WI: Franziska Qualmann of Oshkosh has been filling up her 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche with E85 for as long as she has owned it. In that time she says she doesn’t remember exactly how many gallons she has put in her tank, but she’s certain to remember the 11 gallons she filled up with on January 4, 2008, at the Renew station located near Highways 76 and 41 in Oshkosh.
At 4:50 p.m., Qualmann’s purchase made it the first location in Wisconsin to sell one million gallons of E85, a vehicle fuel containing 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. In recognition of the landmark, she received a number of prizes including a certificate for free fuel. “This is certainly the best Christmas present I received this year,” exclaimed Qualmann.
Renew, an independent brand of fuel stations based in Oshkosh, has offered E85 since the station opened on September 26, 2005. In the 830 days it took to reach one million gallons, the company expects Oshkosh station customers helped save approximately 43,500 barrels of oil by choosing E85 over straight gasoline. Jay Stoflet, Director of Retail Marketing for Renew explains, “While there is no perfect solution for immediately reducing our country’s dependency on oil, E85 is a great first step that is helping make a change. These customers are really making a difference, one gallon at a time.”
E85 can be used in Flexible Fuel Vehicles like Qualmann’s vehicle. Owners of these vehicles can choose to use straight gasoline or E85. Statistics from Wisconsin’s Office of Energy Independence estimate there are over 25,000 Flex Fuel Vehicles in Northeast Wisconsin and well over 6 million across the country. Since the opening of their first station in June of 2005, Flex Fuel Vehicle owners have purchased more than 3 million gallons of E85 combined at all stations the company operates across Northeast Wisconsin.
