Thursday April 26, 2007 FEATURES EIA: Refinery outages do not have 'significant' price impact The interplay between supply and demand has a greater impact on oil and gasoline prices than decreased production caused by refinery outages, according to a report by the Energy Information Administration. The report, titled, "Refinery Outages: Description and Potential Impact on Petroleum Product Prices," was released in March. It was requested in July 2006 by Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), chairman of the Senate's Energy and Natural Resources Committee. (Full Story) Industry, government fund cellulosic ethanol projects A top Chevron executive told The Associated Press this week that a campaign to use more ethanol means the oil industry will be less likely to build new domestic refineries. But it might start making ethanol. Chevron Corp., San Ramon, Calif., and Weyerhaeuser Company, Federal Way, Wash., announced April 12 that they would jointly assess the feasibility of commercializing production of biofuels from cellulose-based sources. (Full Story) Sign up for a FREE subscription to NPN, the magazine that has been reporting news and trends in the petroleum and convenience store industry since 1909. SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT Get The Data That Drives The Petroleum & Convenience Industry Today! To order your print copy or CD version of the 2006 NPN MarketFacts edition, please click here NEWS ITEMS Tesco plans to open Las Vegas grocery stores Tesco is planning to enter the Las Vegas market with up to six new stores, having identified sites across the valley, according to an April 18 article by Tony Illia and Valerie Miller in the Las Vegas Business Press. (Full Story) OPW automatic tank gauging system offers wireless communication OPW Fuel Management Systems, Hodgkins, Ill., said April 24 that it has utilized the latest in wireless technology to offer a "Best in Class" wireless communication option for the new SiteSentinel iSite automatic tank-gauging system. (Full Story) R.E. Powell Distributing selects TelaPoint's supply chain solution TelaPoint, Inc., Louisville, Ky., an Internet supply chain software provider for the convenience store and petroleum industry, announced April 24 that R.E. Powell Distributing has implemented its TelaFuel Internet software solution to streamline and manage its fuel replenishment process. (Full Story) Washington state authorities to investigate gasoline prices A comprehensive investigation of the gasoline market will delve into factors that influence prices throughout Washington state, according to an April 24 article by Susan Gilmore in The Seattle Times. (Full Story) Guttman Oil selects FuelQuest's Fuel Management System FuelQuest, Inc., Houston, an on-demand software and services company for the downstream energy industry, announced April 24 that Guttman Oil Company and Source One Transportation, A Guttman Group Company, will utilize its Fuel Management System (FMS) to manage fuel processes for its bulk distribution of petroleum products. (Full Story) Warren Equities announces new management structure Warren Equities, Inc., Providence, R.I., on April 23 announced that the company has realigned its management team. (Full Story) BP announces results for first quarter of 2007 BP on April 24 announced financial results for its first quarter of 2007. (Full Story) Residents of Longview, Texas, to vote on alcohol sales law With May 12 city elections just weeks away, two groups are opposing propositions that would change the way alcohol is sold in grocery and convenience stores in Longview, Texas, according to an April 24 article by Sherry Koonce in News-Journal.com. (Full Story) Westinghouse Digital to build TV network at U.S. gas stations Westinghouse Digital Electronics, Santa Fe Springs, Calif., a manufacturer of LCD TVs in the U.S., announced April 23 an exclusive arrangement with AdtekMedia, Inc. to significantly accelerate the national expansion of "PumpTop TV," AdtekMedia's digital media network. (Full Story) Gilbarco deploys color screens with SMART Merchandising Gilbarco on April 23 announced the second phase of its Encore color screen program, with the installation of backward-compatible color screens at several locations across the country. (Full Story) Valero tops Fortune list of 'Best Big Companies to Work For' Fortune magazine - publisher of the annual "Fortune 500" and "100 Best Companies to Work For" lists - has ranked Valero Energy Corp. No. 1 on its new "Best Big Companies to Work For" list. (Full Story) Pennsylvanians who purchased cigarettes via the Internet must pay tax Pennsylvanians who purchased cigarettes over the Internet, or from out-of-state mail order companies, will soon receive a letter from the state's Department of Revenue asking them to pay state taxes on the purchases, according to an April 18 announcement by Pennsylvania authorities. (Full Story) Chevron exec: Ethanol means no new refineries The campaign to displace as much as a fifth of the country's gasoline with ethanol will make it less likely the oil industry will build new domestic refineries, a Chevron Corp. executive said, according to the Associated Press. (Full Story) The Pantry completes deal for 11 convenience stores in South Carolina The Pantry, Inc., an independently operated convenience store chain in the southeastern U.S., announced April 20 that it has completed the acquisition of 11 convenience stores in the Spartanburg, South Carolina market from Willard Oil Company, Inc. (Full Story) Altria Group reports 2007 first-quarter results Altria Group, Inc. on April 19 announced reported diluted earnings per share from continuing operations of $1.01 in the first quarter of 2007, including items detailed on the attached Schedule 3, versus $1.24 in the first quarter of 2006. (Full Story) MoCo Market aims to break new ground as specialty convenience store MoCo Market is a specialty food, wine, beer and retail outlet at 804 Williamson Street in Madison, Wis. (Full Story) In Wisconsin: grocer to build fuel station and convenience store Gordy's County Market, a grocery in Chippewa Falls, Wis., has announced plans to build a $600,000 gas station and convenience store in the town, according to an article by Jeffrey Hage in the April 18 Chippewa Herald online. (Full Story) EIA: retail gasoline and diesel prices increase again For the eleventh consecutive week, gasoline prices increased, climbing 7.4 cents to 287.6 cents per gallon for the week of April 16, according to the April 18 edition of "This Week in Petroleum," published by the Energy Information Administration (EIA). (Full Story) PRODUCT OF THE WEEK SiteSentinel iSite automatic tank gauging system offers state-of-the-art wireless communication OPW Fuel Management Systems has utilized the latest in wireless technology to offer a "Best in Class" wireless communication option for the new SiteSentinel iSite automatic tank-gauging system. This communication option provides the most reliable method in the industry for connection of the iSite console to the VSmart module. In turn, all of the iSite system components such as probes, sensors and line-leak detection devices are connected directly to the VSmart module minimizing the cost of wiring and conduit in the installation. The VSmart's single wireless radio antenna is installed above ground, is hardwired to power eliminating the need for expensive disposable batteries. This ensures a higher power signal and the best possible connection available for communication between the devices. A wireless modem is installed in the iSite console and the antenna is mounted at the console or remotely outside of the building, depending on the application and potential for interference. Data is encrypted during transmission, so you'll know that your data is always secure. And since the wireless transmitters can send and receive data from thousands of feet away, you can install a wireless network to avoid obstructions like roads, railroad tracks, utility lines, etc. The wireless antenna for the new iSite console can be installed anywhere on the site as long as it has "line of sight" with the building that contains the console and there is no other wireless interference in the area. This new wireless option incorporates the latest server platform technology, enabling browser-based configuration and management tools. The wireless option eliminates the expense of pulling numerous wires back to the console to interface probes, sensors and line-leak detection devices. The NEW iSite automatic tank gauge is also compatible with Bluetooth and 802.11 technologies. OPW Fuel Management Systems www.opwfms.com CALENDAR OF EVENTS NACStech 2007 Gaylord Opryland Hotel & Convention Center Nashville, Tenn. April 30-May 2 (703) 684-3600 www.nacsonline.com NYACS Trade Show and Convention The Oncenter Syracuse, N.Y. May 15-16 (518) 432-1400 www.nyacs.org   Focus on Finance hosted by Meridian Associates, Inc. Renaissance Worthington Hotel Fort Worth, Texas May 16-18 (800) 728-9005 www.askmeridian.com Winning Fuel Buying Strategies Hyatt Harborside Hotel Boston May 16-18 (866) 620-5940 opisnet.com/fuelbuying   OMEGA WV Trade Show Stonewall Resort Roanoke, WV May 21-23 (304) 343-5500 www.omegawv.com Vermont Fuel Dealers Association Spring 2007 Conference Top Notch Resort & Spa Stowe, Vt. May 23-24 (802) 485-7999 www.vermontfuel.com   For a complete list of industry events, go to NPN's calendar web page.  Published By NPN Group |  © 2007 NPN Group | All Rights Reserved For more information on NPN MarketPulse, contact: Gary Bevers, group publisher M2MEDIA360 Retail Distribution Group Ph: 832-444-7675 Fax: 800-430-3446 Keith Reid, editor-in-chief M2MEDIA360 NPN Group Ph: 630-739-0280 Fax: 630-739-0321 This newsletter is protected by United States copyright and other intellectual property laws and may not be reproduced, rewritten, distributed, re-disseminated, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast, directly or indirectly, in any medium without the prior written permission of M2MEDIA360.

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