Domestic Fuel

Paul Predaris has joined Renewable Energy Group (REG) as the company’s new Biodiesel Sales Manager. In his role, he will oversee the company’s Bioheat development of the biodiesel market in the Northeastern United States. This part of the country is rapidly adopting Bioheat for home heating and Predaris will closely work with home heating oil and petroleum distributors as well as terminal owners to expand the market.

“Bioheat and biodiesel demand in the Northeast is rapidly expanding due to progressive state and local energy policy and the Renewable Fuels Standard. As America’s largest biodiesel producer, we are committed to focusing our nationwide distribution and logistics resources in this region and the addition of Predaris to our team is evidence of that commitment,” said REG Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Gary Haer.

“Predaris’s extensive experience in the region and knowledge of the biodiesel industry allow him to effectively partner with down-stream supply chain partners in making Bioheat and biodiesel more widely available,” he added.

Prior to joining REG, Predaris spent nearly 15 years with Sprague Energy Corporation in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He has also served on the board of directors for several state oil and heat councils and associations.

It’s no coincidence that we’re seeing a few new E85 stations opening this week. We’re heading into Labor Day weekend and many us will be driving to visit friends and family. For those flex-fuel vehicle drivers, you have a new E85 station that just may be on your travel route. Aurora Cooperative at 614 2nd Street in St. Paul, Nebraska is the home of the state’s newest E85 pump. While you can fill up now, the station will be having a grand opening celebration on Thursday, September 8, 2011 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.

During the E85 event, the station will offer an 85 cent discount on E85 for a fill-up of up to 30 gallons. Also available is E10 and regular gasoline. This is Nebraska’s 68th E85 pump and today, there are more than 100,000 Nebraskan motorists who own a flex-fuel vehicle (FFV). Not sure if your car is an FFV? You can check by visiting the Nebraska Ethanol Board website at www.ne-ethanol.org/ffv.

“E85 and other ethanol fuels burn cleaner than gasoline and the ethanol is produced here in Nebraska. As manufacturers produce more Flex Fuel Vehicles each year, there is an opportunity to expand the use of high level ethanol blends,” said Todd Sneller, Nebraska Ethanol Board Administrator.

Kim Clark, Ag Program Manager with the Nebraska Corn Board added, “We are pleased that ethanol, grown and produced right here in Nebraska by our corn farmers, can be offered locally.”