News Releases for May 2004
May 25, 2004
Contact: Kim Christianson, Department of Commerce (701) 328-4137
Ellen Shafer, Shafer/Ness Public Relations (701) 492-4004
Hoeven Introduces GoE, Announces Statewide Ethanol Marketing Program
BISMARCK, N.D. - Gov. John Hoeven is cheering GoE! in an effort to encourage all North Dakotans to use ethanol-blended fuel in their cars, ATVs, boats, lawn mowers, and anything else that runs on gasoline.
GoE is North Dakota’s own brand of ethanol-blended fuel, and Hoeven is touting its benefits to the economy and environment. He introduced the brand name and overall umbrella marketing campaign at a morning event at a StaMart in Fargo and an afternoon event at a Cenex station in Bismarck. The events also served as a jumpstart to the “summer driving season,” offering a promotional price on GoE for motorists to fill up before the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
“When North Dakotans GoE, it’s a win-win for everyone,” Hoeven said. “Increased ethanol usage translates into additional support for agriculture, more jobs, a more robust economy and a cleaner, safer environment. It’s economical, efficient and earth-friendly, so we’d like to see everyone in the state GoE.”
Today’s announcement is part of Hoeven’s four-part initiative to enhance production and consumption of ethanol and other renewable fuels in the state. Hoeven’s plan provides up to $500,000 for statewide renewable-fuels marketing over three years.
The GoE brand launch is part of a comprehensive, statewide marketing campaign to increase ethanol consumption in the state. Currently, 30 percent of fuel purchased in North Dakota consists of ethanol blends or other renewable fuels, such as biodiesel.
The goal of the campaign is to increase sales to 50 percent by raising awareness and providing information regarding the benefits of using ethanol and other renewables.
Kim Christianson, program manager of the State Energy Office, said branding ethanol-blended fuel will be an effective way to raise awareness, create excitement and, ultimately, increase consumption. “It makes sense for North Dakota’s ethanol to have its own brand name,” Christianson said. “GoE provides ethanol produced here in North Dakota the identity it deserves. We grow the corn, we process it and we blend it at two plants in the state. Now we need to use more GoE to benefit our economy and our environment.”
In coming months, North Dakotans will see and hear GoE everywhere, from television and radio commercials to billboards, from stickers on their local convenience store pumps to a Web site designed for the effort.
GOeFuel.com features a wealth of information about ethanol and its production, benefits to the state and pollution facts. It also negates common myths with details about ethanol, such as how it burns cleaner than regular unleaded, is safe to use in any motor and actually boosts engine efficiency and performance.
The site also highlights North Dakota-specific ethanol statistics. For example:
- Each year, North Dakota ethanol plants use 13 million bushels of corn grown by our farmers to produce 35 million gallons of GoE. *
- Economic impact studies indicate that the North Dakota ethanol plants that produce 35 million gallons of ethanol would provide $110 million in gross economic activity to the immediate area, $19 million in personal income and $1.2 million in tax revenue. *
- GoE production provides the third largest in-state market for corn. *
* Source: American Coalition for Ethanol and Renewable Fuels Association.
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