Thursday June 28, 2007 FEATURES E85 installations slow; lack of UL rating cited Growth of E85 stations nationwide has slackened as retailers wait for dispenser standards to be issued by Underwriters Laboratories, the deputy director of the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition told GateHouse News Service, in an article by Tim Landis published on June 24. Installations of new E85 dispensers should pick up once the UL issues new standards for ethanol dispensing equipment, Michelle Kautz, deputy director of the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition (NEVC), based in Jefferson City, Mo. (Full Story) White House and trade groups criticize Senate energy bill Anti-price-gouging language in a version of the energy bill passed by the U.S. Senate met with blunt criticism from the Petroleum Marketers Association of America. "President Bush has said on multiple occasions now that he will veto any energy bill that has these gouging provisions," Dan Gilligan, president of the Petroleum Marketers Association of America, told NPN MarketPulse. (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 In Delaware: Retailers oppose hike in cigarette tax Retailers in Delaware are gearing up for a showdown over a proposed 60-cents-a-pack hike in the cigarette tax, but lawmakers expect the increase to be approved as they try to balance the state's budget before midnight on June 30 - the close of the current legislative session, according to an article by Patrick Jackson in The News Journal. (Full Story) In Wisconsin: Libertarian law firm sues over ban on gasoline discounts The newest challenge to a Depression-era state law designed to protect owners of small gas stations from unfair competition has been filed in Dane County Circuit Court in Wisconsin by a national libertarian law firm, according to a June 26 article by Mike Ivey in The Capital Times. (Full Story) CARB funds Pearson Fuels project to install E85 dispensers Pearson Fuels announced that it has received grant funding from the California Air Resources Board (CARB). (Full Story) E85 growth in Illinois slows pending new safety guidelines Growth in the number of stations selling E85 in Illinois has slowed almost to a stop while questions of safety and legal liability for pumping the alternative fuel are resolved, according to a June 24 article by Tim Landis of GateHouse News Service. (Full Story) Retailers praise Senate for rejecting 'card-check' legislation The National Retail Federation (NRF) on June 26 commended the U.S. Senate for rejecting H.R. 800, the "Employee Free Choice Act," sponsored by Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Ted Kennedy, D-Mass. (Full Story) Supreme Court to consider Maine cigarette law The Supreme Court on June 25 agreed to consider reinstating Maine's law aimed at regulating Internet sales of cigarettes to keep them out of the hands of minors, the Associated Press reported. (Full Story) Average gasoline price falls below $3 per gallon The average price U.S. consumers pay to fill their vehicles' gasoline tanks dropped below $3 a gallon for the first time in eight weeks, the government said June 25, according to Reuters. (Full Story) AAA expects record travel for July 4 holiday A record number of drivers will hit the road for the July 4 holiday despite high gasoline prices and the fact it lands in the middle of the week, automobile and travel group AAA said in a press release June 25, according to a Reuters article by Rebekah Kebede. (Full Story) Automakers focus on U.S. House after Senate sets new MPG goal The fight over higher automobile fuel efficiency standards shifts to the U.S. House of Representatives this week with big car companies regrouping after a stinging defeat in Senate energy legislation, according to a June 24 Reuters article by John Crawley. (Full Story) In Tennessee: beer buyers from 21 to 101 must show IDs Tennessee is set to become the first state in the nation to require proof of age from anyone, no matter the age, who buys beer for off-premises consumption, according to a June 24 Associated Press report. (Full Story) 7-Elevens to become franchises in South Florida Convenience store chain 7-Eleven, based in Dallas, said it plans to convert about 100 company-operated stores in Florida into franchised operations, South Florida Business Journal reported June 20. (Full Story) PRODUCT OF THE WEEK New Tank Sampler Kit for Fuel Storage Tanks Central Illinois Manufacturing Company (Cim-Tek® Filtration) has developed an innovative way to take more accurate samples from the bottom of fuel storage tanks with its new product, the Tank Sampler Kit. It is a portable hand-operated vacuum device designed for use on underground and above-ground tanks storing gasoline, diesel fuels, alcohol-blended fuels, as well as fuel oil tanks. With this product, samples of the fuel will be more accurate than using water-finding paste. The sample containers can be taken to a lab for the identification of other contaminants such as microbiological growths or particulates. The Tank Sampler Kit (Part #60035) contains a 6' & 14' polyurethane suction hose with brass weights so samples can be taken directly from the tank bottom for a more precise reading. It is equipped with three shatterproof containers in a metal holder, which keeps test samples from spilling. All components are placed in a portable case that is easy to store. Cim-Tek® Filtration www.cim-tek.com CALENDAR OF EVENTS Georgia Association of Convenience Stores 2007 Convention Marriott Sawgrass Resort Ponte Vedra Beach, FL June 24-26 (770) 736-9723 www.gacs.com California Independent Oil Marketers Association 2007 California Petroleum Conference Sacramento, Calif. June 24-27 (916) 646-5980 www.cioma.com   PetrolWorld Asia Business Forum Singapore June 26-27 www.pwasia2007.com Georgia Oilmen's Association Sunbelt Petroleum Conference Birmingham, Ala. July 11-15 (334)272-3800 www.georgiaoilmensassoc.com   Pennsylvania Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association Summer Conference Golden Arrow Hotel Lake Placid, NY July 15-17 (717) 902-0210 www.ppmcsa.org Oregon Petroleum Association (OPA) Annual Sunriver Conference Sunriver, Ore. July 15-18 www.opma.net   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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