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For Immediate Release: Tuesday, January 15, 2019
Naig recognizes efforts by fuel marketers to offer and promote renewable fuels
DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced that Casey's General Stores and Quick Oil Company are the 2019 winners of the Secretary’s Ethanol and Biodiesel Marketing Awards. The awards were created by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to recognize fuel marketers that have gone above and beyond in their efforts to promote and sell renewable fuels.
“Casey's and Quick Oil Company have shown great leadership and commitment to marketing our homegrown renewable fuels. I am very proud to recognize the investment they have made to not only our renewable fuels industry, but the environment and Iowa economy as well,” Naig said.
The Secretary’s Ethanol and Biodiesel Marketing Awards recognize businesses that market the renewable fuels they have available through creative efforts including hosting special events highlighting renewable fuels, development of creative signage, initiation of new advertisements or marketing efforts, and dramatically increasing renewable fuel availability.
The winners will be recognized during the Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Stores of Iowa Annual Meeting in Des Moines on Jan. 15. The Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Stores of Iowa (PMCI) is a non-profit state trade association serving the needs of independent petroleum marketers and convenience store owners throughout the state.
“Fuel marketers allow consumers to access ethanol and biodiesel blends produced right here in Iowa. Our state is a national leader in renewable fuels production, and we are very fortunate that many retailers are making significant investments to provide their customers with increased access to renewable fuels,” Naig said.
Ethanol
Casey’s General Stores is the winner of the 2019 Secretary’s Ethanol Marketing Award. Casey’s has committed to offering E15 (Unleaded 88) to more than 500 of its locations over the next four years.
Casey’s is rapidly adding E15 and E85 locations in Iowa and promoting its availability to customers. From 2017 to 2018, Casey’s went from two E15 and E85 stations in Iowa to 13.
For the past two years, Casey’s has participated in the Pink at the Pump® campaign, co-sponsored by the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board. Pink at the Pump® is a breast cancer awareness campaign where E15 retailers across Iowa contribute 3 cents to breast cancer research for every gallon of E15 sold during Breast Cancer Awareness month in October.
Casey’s also hosted three radio remotes with the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association and Iowa Corn to educate motorists about the benefits of E15, not only for their health but their vehicles. For the radio remotes, Casey’s discounted E15 by 25 cents per gallon. During the two-hour remotes, E15 sales equaled the total amount of E15 gallons sold on a daily basis.
Casey’s has spent time educating motorists on the use of E85 for flex fuel vehicles (FFVs). In the run-up to the Iowa Corn 300, Casey’s hosted E85 promotion events with discounted fuel, a remote radio broadcast, and free rides in a two-seat Indy car to show consumers the power and performance of E85.
Casey's General Stores Director of Fuels Nathaniel Doddridge was nominated for the award by the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board.
Biodiesel
Quick Oil Company in Perry is the winner of the 2019 Secretary's Biodiesel Marketing Award.
Rod Gittins has owned and operated Quick Oil Company for more than thirty years. Prior to purchasing Quick Oil Company, Mr. Gittins worked with his father on the farm land owned by family. Farming remains in his blood and his business allows him to provide products to his farm customers that are essential to their success.
Quick Oil Company has 11 employees and operates two tank wagons and three bulk fueling plants. They serve a primary customer base of farmers, contractors, and various other end-use customers. Rod has partnered with industry experts to host biodiesel educational sessions for his customers to address any questions they have about the product and to share the benefits of biodiesel. The results speak for themselves.
Rod Gittins and Quick Oil Company was nominated for the award by the Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Stores of Iowa.
Renewable Fuels Industry Overview
Iowa leads the nation in the production of ethanol and biodiesel. Iowa has 44 ethanol refineries capable of producing more than 4.35 billion gallons annually. In addition, Iowa has 12 biodiesel facilities with the capacity to produce nearly 365 million gallons annually.
The Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program offers cost-share grants for the installation of E85 dispensers, blender pumps, biodiesel dispensers and biodiesel storage facilities. The grant program is managed by Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Additional information can be found on the Department’s website at www.IowaAgriculture.gov
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For more information, contact Lexi Marek, 515-281-5322 or (515) 326-1437 (cell) or Lexi.Marek@IowaAgriculture.gov.
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