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Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/83158
INDUSTRY NEWS OPEI issues statement on ethanol ruling ON AUG. 17, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (D.C. Circuit) denied petitions for review filed by a number of industry groups on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) approval of the introduction of gasoline with 15- percent ethanol (E15) in 2001-and-newer model-year automobiles. Kris Kiser, president and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), issued the following response Aug. 22: "OPEI is deeply disappointed by the decision, but we are heartened by the dissenting opinion of Judge Kavanaugh who wrote in his strong dissent, that '[i]n granting the E15 partial waiver, EPA ran roughshod over the relevant statutory limits.' This premise and many of the themes in the dissent on the merits were briefed by OPEI and the other engine manufacturers. While the other two judges ultimately denied the position, the Chief Judge denied each of the petitions based on standing, and therefore the court was unable to address the merits of the case due to a procedural issue. "OPEI, along with its partners, will be looking at our options and a likely appeal. This should be decided in the next week to 10 days. For our outdoor equipment and engine manufacturers, OPEI will examine how to best move forward and how to potentially bring persuasive new information to the court that clearly shows the significant adverse impact that E15 can have on engines." Rotary ventures into eCommerce with launch of online storefront ROTARY CORPORATION, the world's largest supplier of aftermarket parts for outdoor power equipment, announced Aug. 7 that it has launched online stores for the United States and Canada using Shopatron's retail-integrated eCommerce solution. Now, shoppers in North America can buy any of Rotary's replacement parts and small- engine components directly from the company's online store, and have the products delivered to them through an authorized Rotary dealer. The new partnership gives Rotary a world-class-hosted eCommerce solution that supports the company's extensive network of dealers and distributors. Participating Rotary dealers across North America will fulfill online orders from their current inventory using the Shopatron Order Exchange. "Shopatron is the perfect solution for Rotary because it allows us to sell online, while at the same time, promote our dealers," said Caylee Bickmore, Rotary's eCommerce and Web marketing manager. "By passing online orders to the dealers, we are providing them with an additional source of revenue and access to new customers. Ultimately, the program will result in a higher inventory turnover for dealers and increased sales for everyone." Rotary joins more than two dozen garden and tool brands on the Shopatron platform, nine of which have launched online stores in 2012. These manufacturers share online orders with more than 500 retail partners participating on the Shopatron order exchange. 10 OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT www.outdoorpowerequipment.com