DARLING DOWNS GIVES ETHANOL THE THUMBS UP
Published Sunday, 03 December, 2006 at 12:00 AM
JOINT STATEMENT
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
Motorists in grain growing regions such as the Darling Downs are leading the State when it comes to trialling ethanol blended fuels, Premier Peter Beattie and Minister for State Development John Mickel announced today.
In Toowoomba for Community Cabinet on December 3-4, Mr Beattie and Mr Mickel released early research results of its first 12 months of tracking community attitudes and consumer uptake of ethanol blended fuels.
“The research shows one-third of motorists in the region, or 33%, have trialled ethanol blended fuels,” Mr Beattie said. “This compares with the State’s overall rate of 25% - an increase from 16% in December 2005,” he said.
“There’s a strong recognition in the local community that we need to get serious about alternatives fuels especially when ethanol promises not only environmental benefits but economic benefits for regions like the Darling Downs.”
Mr Beattie said next year the Dalby Bio-Refinery Limited would begin construction of its 80 mega litre grain-based ethanol plant with a capital investment of $100 million. The Darling Downs is a key producer of sorghum which can be used to produce ethanol. Construction is expected to take 18 months.
Mr Beattie applauded the major and independent fuel chains for their ongoing commitment to providing ethanol blended fuels to Darling Downs motorists.
Mr Mickel said almost all standard fuel at BP service stations in Toowoomba will have a 10% ethanol blend later this month when the company’s New Unleaded Petrol replaces most of the unleaded petrol.
“As BP Australia supplies between 25-30% of Toowoomba’s petrol, this change is a significant step forward and consolidates their commitment to ethanol blended fuels and to Queensland motorists,” Mr Mickel said. “BP Australia is offering 3 cents per litre discount through their Biorewards program as well.
“Freedom Fuels has also recently converted a further three fuel sites in the Toowoomba area which means the company’s Elite 95 and Elite 98 products are now available to some 12,000 customers expected to visit the sites each week.”
Last week (27 November) Freedom Fuels’ Hattonvale service station opened its doors. This site boasts new underground ethanol storage tanks, a total storage capacity of 90,000 litres and 24 hoses to dispense ethanol blended fuel to customers. It also retails biodiesel, a renewable fuel produced from oil seed crops or animal by-products such as tallow, further helping to reduce the economy’s reliance on imported and finite fuels.
Mr Mickel said ethanol blended fuels were now available at 24 service stations in the Darling Downs region, with more retailers planning to sell ethanol within the next few months.
State-wide there are now over 170 fuel outlets selling ethanol blended fuel, representing a four-fold increase from only 40 sites two years ago.
“Conversion of additional sites in the Darling Downs region is being aided by the Queensland Ethanol Conversion Initiative (QECI) which provides support for blending facilities and to fuel retailers to install ethanol blended fuel at the bowser,” Mr Mickel said.
“To date 15 projects totalling $3.6 million have been committed. 11 of the 15 projects assisted will involve the conversion of up to 234 service stations to supply and market ethanol blended fuels.”
Mr Mickel branded the first six months of the State Government’s myth-busting +e campaign, first piloted in the Darling Downs region earlier this year, a success.
“We recognised we needed to educate Queenslanders about ethanol blended fuel because there was a lot of misunderstanding about the product,” he said.
Mr Mickel said the State Government’s +e campaign team would return to the Darling Downs this week (until Monday 11 December), visiting fuel outlets and talking to motorists about the benefits of ethanol blended fuels.
“I’d encourage motorists to talk to members of the team – it’s a great opportunity to have your questions answered, to find out more about +e fuels and how they can be a plus for your car’s engine, a plus for Queensland’s economy and a plus for lower emissions and cleaner air,” he said.
Mr Mickel said the research had revealed community attitudes towards ethanol were changing.
“One in two motorists surveyed acknowledge ethanol blended fuel is better for the environment (58%) and more than one in three recognise the benefits of ethanol fuel supporting the sugar cane industry (47%), the Queensland economy (36%) and the Australian economy (33%),” he said.
“We also know that the majority of those motorists trialling ethanol blended fuels (64%) are repeat users – that’s an encouraging sign. However, ethanol blended fuel is the main fuel choice for only 2% of drivers – so there is still a lot more work to do.”
More information about where to find ethanol blended fuels and the Queensland Government’s +e campaign is available on www.ethanol.qld.gov.au
Attached: list of Darling Downs sites selling ethanol blended fuel
December 3, 2006
Media Contacts: Premier’s Office – Paul Cronin 0418 795 940
Minister’s Office – Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784.
+e campaign team contact: Jessica Bell 0409 974 425
The following is a list of the 24 sites in the Darling Downs area selling ethanol blended fuel:
• BP East, Cnr Bridge and Mary Streets, Toowoomba
• *BP Herries Street, Cnr Herries and Neil Streets, Toowoomba
• *BP Toowoomba City, Cnr Ruthven and James, Toowoomba
• *BP Kearney Springs, 823 Ruthven Street, Toowoomba
• *BP Highfields, New England Highway, Toowoomba
• *BP on Tor, Cnr Tor and Hursley Roads, Toowoomba
• *BP Truckstop & Depot, 246-252 Anzac Avenue, Toowoomba
• Caltex Superstore Cnr James and Ruthven Streets, Toowoomba
• Caltex Taylor Street, Toowoomba, 383 Taylor Street, Toowoomba
• Caltex Garden City, 877 Ruthven Street, Toowoomba
• Independent Fuel Outlet, Cnr Russell and West Streets, Toowoomba
• BP Koreman’s Store, Cnr Cunningham Highway and Douglas Street, Warwick
• Caltex Truck & Travel, New England Highway, Warwick
• Caltex Jondaryan, Warrego Highway, Jondaryan
• Independent Fuel Supplies, Warrego Highway, Dalby
• Caltex Stanthorpe, New England Highway, Stanthorpe
• Caltex Goondiwindi Truckstop, Boundary Road, Goondiwindi
• Freedom Fuels Goondiwindi, Marshall Street, Goondiwindi
• Caltex St George, 102 Victoria Street, St George
• Freedom Fuels Allora, 1 New England Highway, Allora
• Independent Fuel Supplies, New England Highway, Wallangarra
• Freedom Fuels, 8616 Warrego Highway, Withcott, Q 4350
• Freedom Fuels, 282 Ruthven Street, Toowoomba. Q 4350
• Freedom Fuels, 283 Taylor Street, Toowoomba. Q 4350
* Fully dedicated BP Australia site retailing New Unleaded Petrol (with !0% ethanol)
In Toowoomba for Community Cabinet on December 3-4, Mr Beattie and Mr Mickel released early research results of its first 12 months of tracking community attitudes and consumer uptake of ethanol blended fuels.
“The research shows one-third of motorists in the region, or 33%, have trialled ethanol blended fuels,” Mr Beattie said. “This compares with the State’s overall rate of 25% - an increase from 16% in December 2005,” he said.
“There’s a strong recognition in the local community that we need to get serious about alternatives fuels especially when ethanol promises not only environmental benefits but economic benefits for regions like the Darling Downs.”
Mr Beattie said next year the Dalby Bio-Refinery Limited would begin construction of its 80 mega litre grain-based ethanol plant with a capital investment of $100 million. The Darling Downs is a key producer of sorghum which can be used to produce ethanol. Construction is expected to take 18 months.
Mr Beattie applauded the major and independent fuel chains for their ongoing commitment to providing ethanol blended fuels to Darling Downs motorists.
Mr Mickel said almost all standard fuel at BP service stations in Toowoomba will have a 10% ethanol blend later this month when the company’s New Unleaded Petrol replaces most of the unleaded petrol.
“As BP Australia supplies between 25-30% of Toowoomba’s petrol, this change is a significant step forward and consolidates their commitment to ethanol blended fuels and to Queensland motorists,” Mr Mickel said. “BP Australia is offering 3 cents per litre discount through their Biorewards program as well.
“Freedom Fuels has also recently converted a further three fuel sites in the Toowoomba area which means the company’s Elite 95 and Elite 98 products are now available to some 12,000 customers expected to visit the sites each week.”
Last week (27 November) Freedom Fuels’ Hattonvale service station opened its doors. This site boasts new underground ethanol storage tanks, a total storage capacity of 90,000 litres and 24 hoses to dispense ethanol blended fuel to customers. It also retails biodiesel, a renewable fuel produced from oil seed crops or animal by-products such as tallow, further helping to reduce the economy’s reliance on imported and finite fuels.
Mr Mickel said ethanol blended fuels were now available at 24 service stations in the Darling Downs region, with more retailers planning to sell ethanol within the next few months.
State-wide there are now over 170 fuel outlets selling ethanol blended fuel, representing a four-fold increase from only 40 sites two years ago.
“Conversion of additional sites in the Darling Downs region is being aided by the Queensland Ethanol Conversion Initiative (QECI) which provides support for blending facilities and to fuel retailers to install ethanol blended fuel at the bowser,” Mr Mickel said.
“To date 15 projects totalling $3.6 million have been committed. 11 of the 15 projects assisted will involve the conversion of up to 234 service stations to supply and market ethanol blended fuels.”
Mr Mickel branded the first six months of the State Government’s myth-busting +e campaign, first piloted in the Darling Downs region earlier this year, a success.
“We recognised we needed to educate Queenslanders about ethanol blended fuel because there was a lot of misunderstanding about the product,” he said.
Mr Mickel said the State Government’s +e campaign team would return to the Darling Downs this week (until Monday 11 December), visiting fuel outlets and talking to motorists about the benefits of ethanol blended fuels.
“I’d encourage motorists to talk to members of the team – it’s a great opportunity to have your questions answered, to find out more about +e fuels and how they can be a plus for your car’s engine, a plus for Queensland’s economy and a plus for lower emissions and cleaner air,” he said.
Mr Mickel said the research had revealed community attitudes towards ethanol were changing.
“One in two motorists surveyed acknowledge ethanol blended fuel is better for the environment (58%) and more than one in three recognise the benefits of ethanol fuel supporting the sugar cane industry (47%), the Queensland economy (36%) and the Australian economy (33%),” he said.
“We also know that the majority of those motorists trialling ethanol blended fuels (64%) are repeat users – that’s an encouraging sign. However, ethanol blended fuel is the main fuel choice for only 2% of drivers – so there is still a lot more work to do.”
More information about where to find ethanol blended fuels and the Queensland Government’s +e campaign is available on www.ethanol.qld.gov.au
Attached: list of Darling Downs sites selling ethanol blended fuel
December 3, 2006
Media Contacts: Premier’s Office – Paul Cronin 0418 795 940
Minister’s Office – Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784.
+e campaign team contact: Jessica Bell 0409 974 425
The following is a list of the 24 sites in the Darling Downs area selling ethanol blended fuel:
• BP East, Cnr Bridge and Mary Streets, Toowoomba
• *BP Herries Street, Cnr Herries and Neil Streets, Toowoomba
• *BP Toowoomba City, Cnr Ruthven and James, Toowoomba
• *BP Kearney Springs, 823 Ruthven Street, Toowoomba
• *BP Highfields, New England Highway, Toowoomba
• *BP on Tor, Cnr Tor and Hursley Roads, Toowoomba
• *BP Truckstop & Depot, 246-252 Anzac Avenue, Toowoomba
• Caltex Superstore Cnr James and Ruthven Streets, Toowoomba
• Caltex Taylor Street, Toowoomba, 383 Taylor Street, Toowoomba
• Caltex Garden City, 877 Ruthven Street, Toowoomba
• Independent Fuel Outlet, Cnr Russell and West Streets, Toowoomba
• BP Koreman’s Store, Cnr Cunningham Highway and Douglas Street, Warwick
• Caltex Truck & Travel, New England Highway, Warwick
• Caltex Jondaryan, Warrego Highway, Jondaryan
• Independent Fuel Supplies, Warrego Highway, Dalby
• Caltex Stanthorpe, New England Highway, Stanthorpe
• Caltex Goondiwindi Truckstop, Boundary Road, Goondiwindi
• Freedom Fuels Goondiwindi, Marshall Street, Goondiwindi
• Caltex St George, 102 Victoria Street, St George
• Freedom Fuels Allora, 1 New England Highway, Allora
• Independent Fuel Supplies, New England Highway, Wallangarra
• Freedom Fuels, 8616 Warrego Highway, Withcott, Q 4350
• Freedom Fuels, 282 Ruthven Street, Toowoomba. Q 4350
• Freedom Fuels, 283 Taylor Street, Toowoomba. Q 4350
* Fully dedicated BP Australia site retailing New Unleaded Petrol (with !0% ethanol)