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Our History

With roots dating back to 1951, U.S. Energy™ has established itself as a vertically integrated energy solutions provider—proficient in refined products, alternative fuels, and environmental credits. Our growth and success is thanks to our team members and their commitment to embracing our customer purpose of Finding a Better Way.

Formed Schmidt Brothers Oil Company when brothers Art and Ray Schmidt bought a fuel oil route in Kimberly, Wisconsin. Art’s wife, Gladys, took phone calls, managed delivery schedules, and kept the books from their home in Kimberly. Across town, Ray’s wife, Carol, posted receivables from their home in Kaukauna. They kept their home offices until 1958. Learn how the company started.

Changed our name to Schmidt Oil Co. when Art and Ray’s father, Albert, joined the family business. The brothers gave up some of their stock to make Albert an equal partner. They purchased land in Combined Locks to build bulk oil storage tanks, a corporate office, and our first service and gas station. They hired our first employee, Gordy Hammen, who worked 41 years at the company before retiring. In later years, their younger brother Bill purchased Albert’s third of the business.

Purchased our first refined products terminal in Two Rivers, Wisconsin.

Renamed our company U.S. Oil. View our story.

Responded to the 1973 Oil Embargo by having Art and his son Tom travel to Saudi Arabia to meet with King Faisal. There they expressed how the embargo could cause them to lose our business. Soon after they returned home, Art began calling on major oil companies in an attempt to trade fuel. Art realized plenty of product was available if we were willing to pay the price. They bought high-priced fuel and sold it to high-volume users who needed it badly—causing sales to jump 7x overnight and bringing our company national.

Moved three terminal tanks in Green Bay, Wisconsin to make way for the Tower Drive Bridge.

One of our founders, Bill Schmidt, started the U.S. Venture Open: a charitable golf outing that, since its inception, has raised millions of dollars to help those in need.

Purchased our Green Bay Fox and Milwaukee Central refined product terminals in Wisconsin.

Purchased our Cheboygan, Michigan refined products terminal.

Marked the beginning of our U.S. Gain brand, thanks to our investment in compressed natural gas (CNG).

Acquired Saracen Energy Partners—serving as a strategic move to grow our in-house trading floor.

Purchased Combined Oil—adding another retail fuel supplier and 160 convenience store locations in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Wisconsin.

Opened our first CNG fueling station in Menomonie, Wisconsin for Andersen Windows.

 

Opened our first GAIN® Clean Fuel branded CNG station in Brookville, Pennsylvania.

Purchased eight terminals—expanding our footprint in Iowa, Michigan, Texas, and Wisconsin.

Signed our first RNG landfill offtake agreement at the State Street Landfill in Omaha, Nebraska.

Acquired our first RNG digesters at Dallmann East River Dairy and S&S in Wisconsin.

Constructed our first private RNG fueling station for Testa Produce in Chicago, Illinois.

Acquired Sasafrasnet—adding 45 Mobil and BP branded locations to our Chicago retail footprint.

Purchased AOT Energy America’s rack business based out of Houston—expanding our operations in Texas.

Performed our first voluntary sale of renewable natural gas (RNG) to a Vermont utility.

 

Expanded our terminal footprint to seven new locations in Alabama, South Carolina, and Texas.

Additionally, we built our first greenfield terminal in Melissa, Texas.

U.S. Oil and U.S. Gain combined to form U.S. Energy™. Read the full release here.

Benefit from Tailored Energy Solutions

Are you looking for an energy solutions provider who can meet your needs today while advising on future market conditions? If so, our team is here to help you Stay Ahead ®.