Thorntons Adds E15 to Pumps in Chicago Area
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Thorntons Inc. will offer E15 fuel at 43 Chicago-area locations beginning this month. The convenience store retailer's E15 fuel offering is being sold at the pump under its trademarked Unleaded15 brand name.
“Unleaded15 offers a great value to Chicago guests, and supports our desire to provide the best possible fuel options,” said Jeff Gallic, vice president of fuel supply for Thorntons. “Thorntons has offered E85 for years and given the market demand for higher ethanol blends, we feel Unleaded15 is the next logical step for our portfolio.”
E15 contains up to 15-percent ethanol and up to 85-percent gasoline. Touted as more environmentally friendly vs. traditional gasoline, it is approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for cars manufactured in the model year 2001 or newer.
“We are very excited about the expansion of Unleaded15 in our Chicagoland stores,” said Matt Thornton, CEO of Thorntons. “We support the use of ethanol, wherever it is economically available.”
Growth Energy, which represents the producers and supporters of ethanol, applauded Thorntons’ decision.
“On behalf of Growth Energy and its members, I would like to commend Thorntons for its decision to offer consumers Unleaded15, providing it with the opportunity to choose a homegrown, renewable fuel at the pump,” said Tom Buis, co-chairman of Growth Energy. “By adding this E15 offering to its fuel portfolio, Thorntons has demonstrated their commitment to consumer choice, and a cleaner burning, homegrown high-performance fuel. Now Chicagoans will have the chance to do so as well by choosing to fill up with Unleaded15.”
Louisville-based Thorntons Inc. operates 184 convenience stores in Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee and Florida.
For more on Thorntons’ Chicago stores, click here.